sweet cicely
ExplorePlants
sweet cicely
Osmorhiza
Sweet cicely is a lovely plant with feathery leaves and white flowers. It grows in shady places and has a sweet smell that attracts butterflies and bees!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The sweet cicely has delicate, fern-like leaves, deeply cut and a vibrant bright green. It produces clusters of tiny, star-like white flowers at the top of tall, hollow stems, making it distinctively elegant in damp, shady spots.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderApialesFamilyApiaceaeGenusOsmorhiza
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its seeds, resembling tiny green cigars, taste surprisingly like licorice!
Roman soldiers are believed to have carried sweet cicely seeds across Europe!
Rubbing its leaves releases a unique, delightful anise-like perfume!
This plant was once used to sweeten tart fruits before sugar was common!
Special abilities
Ability
Anise Aroma
Sweet cicely releases a strong, sweet anise fragrance that helps it attract pollinators and deter some grazing animals.
Ability
Self-Seeding Power
Sweet cicely produces abundant seeds that self-sow easily, helping it quickly colonize suitable shady and moist environments.
Ability
Natural Sweetener
Sweet cicely has a natural sugar content in its leaves and roots, allowing it to sweeten foods without added sugar.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-120 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.3-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
visiting its small white flowers for nectar
pollinates
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
feeding on nectar from the flower umbels
eats
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae
sucking sap from leaves and stems
Traits
Aromatic
Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always check with an adult before touching or tasting any plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is sweet cicely?
60-120 cm
How wide does sweet cicely spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on sweet cicely?
0.3-0.5 cm
When does sweet cicely bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is sweet cicely edible?
Yes
Is sweet cicely toxic?
None
What is sweet cicely's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is sweet cicely pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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