Anthriscus cerefolium
(L.) Hoffm.
Chervil, Garden chervil
(c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) douneika, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Herb, Spice, Flowers, Roots, Leaf stalk, Vegetable
Edible Parts: Leaves Root Edible Uses: Condiment Edible leaves - raw in salads or used as a flavouring in cooked foods such as soups and stews. A mild aromatic flavour that is suggestive of aniseed. The leaves are often used as a flavouring, they form the basis of the seasoning 'fines herbes' and are an essential ingredient of 'bouquet garni'. The leaves should always be used fresh because the delicate flavour does not withstand drying or prolonged cooking. The leaves are ready for harvesting in about 8 weeks from sowing, the plant responds well to cut and come again harvesting. The flowers are used as a seasoning. The root is said to be edible.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in a well-drained and partially shady site. It cannot tolerate hot, dry conditions. It is hardy to frost. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.
Africa, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Cuba, Europe, France, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, West Indies,
How to Identify
An annual plant with feather like leaves. It grows about 45-60 cm high. It spreads about 30 cm wide. The leaves are pale green and compound. They are divided into narrow segments. Most plants have a few hairs. The flowers are small and white. The fruit are oblong, dry and have a beak. They are 10 mm long. There are some named cultivars.
Nutrition Score: 88/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 7.2 | 990 | 237 | 23.2 | 585 | 50 | 32 | 8.8 |
| Flowers flavour | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Roots | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How to Grow
Plants are grown from seed. Removing older outside leaves allows better new growth.
Propagation: Seed - sow in situ in succession from February to October. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. The February, September and October sowings should be made in a very sheltered warm and sunny position outdoors or under some protection such as a frame. Other sowings can be made in a position that has at least some shade from the midday sun since the plant runs to seed quickly if it gets too hot or the soil is dry. The seed only remains viable for about a year.
Medicinal Uses
Digestive Diuretic Expectorant Ophthalmic Poultice Stimulant Chervil is not widely used as a medicinal herb, though it is sometimes employed as a 'spring tonic' for cleansing the liver and kidneys, is a good remedy for settling the digestion and is said to be of value in treating poor memory and mental depression. The fresh plant, harvested just before flowering, is digestive, diuretic, expectorant, poultice and stimulant. The juice is used in the treatment of dropsy, arthritis and chronic skin ailments. The bruised leaves are used as a poultice for slow-healing wounds and a warm poultice is applied to painful joints. An infusion of the fresh leaves is also used as an eyewash to treat sore or inflamed eyes.
Other Uses
Repellent The growing plant is said to repel slugs. Special Uses Scented Plants
Wikipedia
Source ↗A biennial herb reaching 0.5 m tall and 0.3 m wide. Flowers from May to June with seeds ripening June to July. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile, pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Grows in full shade to full sun and prefers moist soil. Hardy to UK zone 7.
Production
Seeds germinate in about 2-3 weeks and the plant is ready to harvest in about 6 weeks.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.
Notes
There are about 12 Anthriscus species.
Names & Synonyms
Cerafolio, Cerefolho, Cerfeuil, Cerfoglio, Chabiru, Curled chervil, Kerbel, Kervel, Kjorvel, Korvel, Leaf chervil, Macia madra, Maqdunis, Perifollo, Prava krebuljica, San-lo-po
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