Overview
Anthriscus caucalis is a slender winter or spring annual of the carrot family, growing 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall on hollow, often purple-spotted stems. The leaves are two to three times divided into small, soft, much-cut segments, fern-like and fresh green, the lower ones stalked and the upper clasping the stem. From April to June it bears small flat-topped umbels of tiny white flowers, each umbel with only three to six rays and set opposite the leaves rather than at the stem tip. The flowers ripen to small egg-shaped fruits 0.1-0.2 inch (3-4 mm) long covered in hooked bristles that catch on fur and clothing, which spreads the seed. It grows on dry, sandy, and disturbed ground, on banks, dunes, walls, and field edges across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. As an annual it completes its life cycle within a year, germinating in autumn or spring and dying after seeding. The bristly fruits and short-rayed umbels separate it from cow parsley A. sylvestris, which is a tall perennial with smooth fruits. It can appear weedy on cultivated and waste ground.
Native Range
Native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It grows on dry, sandy, and disturbed ground, including banks, dunes, walls, and field margins.Suggested Uses
Grown occasionally in wildlife and native-plant gardens on dry, sandy soil, and in conservation plantings on coastal and disturbed ground. It supports small pollinating insects early in the season. It is more often a self-sown plant of open ground than a deliberately planted one.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Bloom Information
Small white umbels open from April to June, early in the year for an umbellifer. Each compact umbel carries few rays and sits opposite a leaf. The flowers are visited by small flies and beetles before the bristly fruits form.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Anthriscus caucalis grows in free-draining sandy or stony soils in full sun to light shade and tolerates a soil pH from about 6.0 to 8.0. As an annual it germinates in autumn or spring, flowers, sets seed, and dies within the year. It withstands dry, poor ground and self-seeds freely where soil is disturbed. The plant needs no feeding and tolerates drought during its short life. Seedlings transplant poorly because of the slender taproot, and it is grown from seed sown where it is to flower. It can spread quickly on bare, sandy ground.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this annual. Plants can be pulled after seeding to limit self-sowing, or left to scatter seed. The hooked fruits cling to clothing when the plant is handled.⚠️ Toxicity Warning
UnknownPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow