Cow Parsley

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Cow parsley is a perennial herb found widespread in hedgerows, woodland and verges on the roadside. It has a height of 40-150 cm and features small white flowers in dense flat-topped heads. The flower umbels are 8-10 cm across. The leaves, as seen below, are long and fern-like. The leaves start growing in winter and the flowers emerge in April-June. 


 Cow parsley is part of the carrot family but does not grow the vegetable and is often mistaken for Queen Anne's lace which has lookalike leaves and flowers but has a wild carrot underground. So if you find cow parsley, you might be disappointed! It is also aesthetically similar to poison hemlock so watch out!


Their ability to produce large amounts of seed which spread easily by wind and water make them a nuisance weed. It is even considered an invasive species for many areas of the US and the sale of cow parsley has been banned in some areas.

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