The Perennial Herb With Pretty White Flowers That You Can Grow From Seed

Starting plants from seed often poses more of a challenge than starting them from seedlings. Seeds often require different growing conditions than their mature counterparts, and replicating these conditions is essential for a healthy sprout. However, while the process may be tricky, there's no doubt about it: there's just something so rewarding about watching a plant you grew yourself thrive. And, with a perennial like this eye-catching flowering herb, you can reap the fruits of your labor year after year.

Also known as sweet chervil or myrrh, Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) is often grown both for its uses in the kitchen and its showy white flowers. Sweet cicely blooms from May to June, and it can reach heights of up to 36 inches. As a result, it easily becomes a show-stopper in your garden. This is especially true because of its fragrant leaves, which elevate your garden with both sight and scent. 

Although you may be able to find sweet cicely seedlings available, you can start this flowering herb from seed. This allows you to reap the benefits of adding sweet cicely to your garden alongside the satisfaction of honing your green thumb even further. Sweet cicely seeds do well when started in both the fall and spring. However, this process can vary depending on the season you choose.

If you've decided to start sweet cicely from seed, your first decision is when you're going to do so. For gardeners starting sweet cicely in the fall, you may plant the seeds directly into the ground, sowing around a quarter inch deep. If you get the seeds from a plant you already have in your garden, you won't need to worry about cold stratification. If you choose to start your seeds indoors (which should be done in the spring) or use store-bought seeds, you'll need to artificially recreate this environment by cold-stratifying the seeds, though. This involves placing the seeds in a moist medium (such as peat moss or a paper towel) and then placing the sandwich bag in the fridge. For the best results, do this three months before you plan to plant.

There are also two more things to keep in mind when growing sweet cicely from a seed indoors during the spring: sunlight and transplanting. Once the seeds emerge into seedlings, optimal sunlight is essential for healthy growth. Sweet cicely seedlings do best with full sun, which you can accommodate with grow lights. Plan to transplant your new seedlings once outdoor temperatures are consistently warm and frost-free, after acclimating them.

Overall, sweet cicely is hardy in USDA growing zones 5 through 9, although you may choose to grow it as an annual outside of this area. While starting from a seed may require extra attention to detail, as an adult, this plant is low-maintenance.