Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Anthriscus cerefolium

Garden Chervil · Salad Chervil · Chervil

Family ApiaceaeGenus Anthriscus

A dense stand of finely divided bright green leaves with small white flower umbels showing among them
The whole plantDerzsi Elekes AndorCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, HerbExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
annual or biennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Albania, Austria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Chervil comes through Anglo-Norman from the Latin chaerephylla, leaves of joy. It is one of the French fines herbes. Wikipedia: Chervil

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 21 days.

12% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Anthriscus p. 97Public domain
Show the original text
Anthriscus (Apiaceae). A. cerefolium germ. 70D(4% in 2nd w)-40(2%)- 70D(6%), 70L(12% in 1-3 w)-40, and 40(10% in 3-8 w)-70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Anthriscus p. 97. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 56 days.

10% germination in 21–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Anthriscus p. 97Public domain
Show the original text
Anthriscus (Apiaceae). A. cerefolium germ. 70D(4% in 2nd w)-40(2%)- 70D(6%), 70L(12% in 1-3 w)-40, and 40(10% in 3-8 w)-70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Anthriscus p. 97. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    4 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

6% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Anthriscus p. 97Public domain
Show the original text
Anthriscus (Apiaceae). A. cerefolium germ. 70D(4% in 2nd w)-40(2%)- 70D(6%), 70L(12% in 1-3 w)-40, and 40(10% in 3-8 w)-70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Anthriscus p. 97. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page