Is cow parsley edible?

It is not recommended for consumption due to the high risk of confusing it with toxic species like poison hemlock.

Does it spread easily?

Yes, it self-seeds quite readily in favorable conditions.

Plant guide

Cow parsley.

Anthriscus sylvestris

Pronounced an-THRIS-kus sil-VES-tris

Also known as Cow Parsley, Keck, Kecks, Queen Anne's lace

Cow parsley is a charming, lacy wildflower that often blankets roadsides and meadows in the spring. It brings a soft, woodland feel to gardens with its delicate white blooms. You will find it thrives best in areas that mimic its natural, slightly wild habitat.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 1 to 1.5 meters
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its native damp meadow environment. Watch for wilting during dry spells, which signals a need for more water. It spreads easily, so keep an eye on its growth if you want to contain it.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly damp but never waterlogged.
Feeding: A light application of compost in spring is usually plenty.
Pruning: Cut back the stems after flowering to prevent unwanted self seeding.
Repotting: This plant prefers to be in the ground but can be divided if it becomes too crowded in a container.
Soil: Moist, fertile, well drained soil
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Temperature: -35 to 25°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but misidentification with deadly lookalikes poses a severe risk.
Children: Keep children away from this plant to prevent accidental ingestion due to its resemblance to edible wild carrots.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in some people.
Edibility: Do not consume this plant because it is easily confused with the deadly poisonous poison hemlock.

How to identify it

Delicate fern like foliage
Clusters of tiny white flowers
Hollow, grooved, branching stems
Umbel shaped flower heads

Height: 0.6 to 1.5m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.2 to 0.5cm
Fruit: brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Slugs and SnailsCommon
Leaf MinersUncommon
Root RotUncommon
RustUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

Pair this plant with other meadow species that bloom at similar times to support local pollinator populations.

Grows well with

Red Campion · They naturally occur together in woodland edges and hedgerows.
Cowslip · They share similar light and soil requirements in meadow settings.

Similar species

Poison Hemlock · This is a deadly lookalike that must be avoided.
Wild Carrot · It has a similar appearance but blooms later in the season.

Science

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Anthriscus
Order: Apiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa.
Conservation: This plant is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in nutrient-rich soils and often colonizes disturbed ground or woodland edges.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: wildlife gardens, meadow plantings, naturalistic landscapes

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is cow parsley edible?: It is not recommended for consumption due to the high risk of confusing it with toxic species like poison hemlock.
Does it spread easily?: Yes, it self-seeds quite readily in favorable conditions.

Where the name comes from

The name Anthriscus comes from the Greek word for a type of chervil, while sylvestris means growing in the woods.

Good to know

It is a member of the carrot family.
The stems are hollow and grooved.
It is often seen blooming along roadsides in spring.

Keep your cow parsley growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.