Chaerophyllum tainturieri
Tainturier's chervil
Attracts Pollinators
Native to North America
SunFull Sun – Part Shade
WaterLow
Overview
Chaerophyllum tainturieri is a slender winter annual in the carrot family growing 8-30 inches (20-75 cm) tall, with branching, hairy, hollow stems. The soft, fern-like leaves are finely divided two or three times into small segments, forming a lacy basal rosette before the stems elongate. From March to May it bears small white flowers in loose, flat to rounded compound umbels at the branch tips. These ripen into narrow, ribbed, beaked fruits 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) long that split into two seeds. C. tainturieri grows in open woods, fields, lawns, roadsides, and disturbed sandy ground across the southern and central United States, germinating in fall and completing its life by early summer. It tolerates poor soils and shade and can become weedy in lawns and gardens, spreading freely by seed. The plant dies back as summer heat arrives, leaving only seed behind. Small insects visit the flowers. The finely cut foliage resembles that of cultivated chervil and other wild carrot relatives.
Native Range
Native to the southern and central United States, from the Southeast across the Gulf states to Texas and north through the lower Midwest, growing in open woods, fields, and disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Used in naturalized and native plantings on open, sandy ground and as early cover among other wildflowers. It fills bare winter and spring ground before summer plants take over. Its weedy reseeding makes it unsuited to tidy lawns and formal beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'6"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Small white flowers open in flat to rounded umbels from March to May, peaking in spring. Bloom lasts several weeks before the plant sets seed. Ribbed, beaked fruits follow and the plant dies back by early summer.
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
Chaerophyllum tainturieri grows in full sun to part shade and sandy or loamy, well-drained soil with a pH from about 5.5 to 7.5. As a winter annual it germinates in fall, grows through winter, and flowers in spring, dying as heat arrives. It tolerates poor, dry soils and needs no fertilizer or supplemental water in most sites. It reseeds freely and can spread into lawns and beds as a weed. It is grown by sowing seed in fall where plants are wanted. No staking or other care is needed for this short-lived plant.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this winter annual. Plants can be pulled or mown before the seed ripens to limit spread. Spent growth dies back on its own by early summer.⚠️ Toxicity Warning
UnknownPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow