Plant guide

Rough chervil.

Chaerophyllum temulum

Pronounced keer-oh-FIL-um TEM-yoo-lum

Also known as Rough Chervil

Rough chervil is a biennial herb commonly found in hedgerows and woodland edges. It is known for its spotted stems and delicate white flowers. You will often see it growing in shaded, damp areas.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Biennial herb
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 1 meter
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural woodland habitat. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much. It thrives best in partial shade rather than harsh sun.

Watering: Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
Pruning: Remove dead or damaged foliage to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Moist, fertile, well drained soil
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Biennial, typically 2 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The plant contains alkaloids that can cause poisoning if ingested.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to pets if ingested.
Children: Keep children away from this plant as ingestion of any part can lead to illness.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause skin irritation or photosensitivity in some individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive people.
Edibility: This plant is toxic and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Purple spotted hairy stems
Finely divided fern like leaves
Small white flowers in umbels
Rough texture on stems and leaves

Height: 0.5 to 1m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.5m
Leaves: dark green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 0.8cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · White fungal growth on leaves during dry spells.

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant survives as a low rosette of leaves during the winter months.
In containers: Not recommended for containers.

Seed

Collect seeds in late summer.
Sow directly into the ground in autumn.
Allow natural cold stratification over winter.

This plant is best left in wild areas rather than formal garden beds.

Grows well with

Common Nettle · They often grow together in nutrient rich, shady spots.
Cow Parsley · They share similar habitat requirements in hedgerows.

Similar species

Cow Parsley · It looks very similar but lacks the purple spotted stems.
Hemlock · Both have spotted stems but hemlock is significantly more toxic.

Science

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Chaerophyllum
Order: Apiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of North Africa and Western Asia.
Conservation: It is a common weed and is not of conservation concern.

It colonizes shady hedgerows and woodland edges where it competes for light.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: wildlife garden, hedgerow planting

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

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

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant edible?: No, it is toxic.
How do I control it?: Pull it before it sets seed.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from the Greek words for joy and leaf, while the species name refers to its intoxicating properties.

Good to know

It is commonly known as rough chervil.
The stems are often spotted with purple.
It thrives in shady, disturbed ground.
It is a biennial plant.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.