Chervil Seeds — Anthriscus cerefolium

Delicate Chervil for Fresh Kitchen Flavour

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is a leafy annual herb with delicate, fern-like foliage and a mild flavour with a gentle hint of aniseed. Snip a few leaves into an omelette, scatter them over new potatoes, or stir them through a salad for a little something different.

Chervil is particularly useful for cooler-season herb growing, preferring gentle conditions rather than the heat that basil enjoys. Give it a sheltered spot with light shade and regular moisture for tender leafy growth.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🌿 Delicate foliage — soft green leaves for fresh picking
• 🍳 Lovely with eggs — a gentle flavour for omelettes and egg dishes
• 🥗 Fresh finishing herb — enjoy in salads, dressings and herb butter
• 🌤️ Happy in partial shade — useful where summer afternoon sun is too strong
• 🌱 Cool-season annual — suited to spring and autumn sowings
• ✂️ Small regular harvests — pick tender leaves while plants are young

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow directly in spring or late summer to autumn, choosing cooler weather rather than midsummer heat. In mild areas, sheltered autumn sowings can provide leaves into the cooler months. Protect young plants from severe frost.

Sow approximately 5 mm deep in finely prepared, moist soil. Germination commonly takes around 10–21 days in cool to mild conditions, approximately 10–18°C. Keep the seedbed evenly moist; hot, dry conditions can reduce success.

Chervil develops a taproot and is best sown where it will grow. If starting in cells, transplant carefully while seedlings are young. Thin to approximately 15–20 cm apart. Choose fertile, free-draining soil in partial shade, or gentle sun in cooler seasons.

Water during dry spells and avoid letting plants dry out. Heat, drought and lengthening days can encourage early flowering, so make small repeat sowings every few weeks during suitable weather rather than relying on one large batch.

Begin picking once plants are established, taking small amounts and leaving enough foliage for regrowth. Use leaves fresh and add at the end of cooking, as their delicate flavour is easily lost with prolonged heat. Fresh seed is preferable, so store unused seed cool and dry and sow promptly.

What’s in the Packet

Each packet contains 50 Chervil seeds (Anthriscus cerefolium).

📄 Want to go even deeper? The CHBotanics Propagation from Seeds Manual — Professional Edition — a comprehensive digital PDF covering sowing times, germination, spacing, and much more across dozens of flower and vegetable species, is available as an instant download. 🌱😊