Species Spreading Chervil
Small white flowers with green leaves and stem.

Spreading Chervil

Chaerophyllum procumbens

Spreading Chervil (Chaerophyllum procumbens) is a low-growing, creeping perennial plant with small, light-green, fern-like leaves that have a mild, anise-like flavor. It is an attractive groundcover for borders or rock gardens, and its small, white flowers attract bees. The plant is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia but is widespread in temperate climates. It is hardy and easy to grow in average soil, and does best in full sun to partial shade. Spreading Chervil spreads easily, so should be planted in an area with enough room to spread without taking over the garden. It is an excellent choice as an edible groundcover in the vegetable garden.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

White/Cream Flowers

Sun:

Partial Shade

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Spreading Chervil (Chaerophyllum procumbens) prefers moist soil. Water regularly to maintain a high level of moisture in the soil. Water once or twice a week through the growing season, providing enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Reduce watering in the fall and winter months when the plant goes dormant. Water the plant in the early morning hours, as damp foliage in the evening can lead to fungal diseases.

sunlight

Spreading Chervil is a plant species that loves lots of sunlight. The ideal amount of sunlight for this species of plant is at minimum 8 hours each day. The sunlight should be direct and strong so the plant can get the full range of the sun’s nutrient-rich rays. During the hottest part of the day, between late morning and early afternoon, the sunlight should be the strongest to maximize the growth of the plant. During the early morning or late evening hours, the sunlight should still be direct but with lower intensity.

pruning

The Spreading Chervil (Chaerophyllum procumbens) should generally be pruned in May or June every year. When pruning, remove any dead, dying, or diseased stems and foliage and cut any remaining stems back to a height of 6-10 inches. Pruning the stems regularly helps to keep the Spreading Chervil looking tidy and encourages the shrub to produce new growth for the season ahead.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Spreading Chervil typically starts flowering in April.