Cryptotaenia canadensis – Wild chervil, umbleweed, or Canadian honewort

General Information: Wild chervil, honewort, or umbleweed, (Cryptotaenia canadensis) is a low-maintenance, self-sowing, edimental plant that tolerates a good deal of shade making it useful for shady spots where a native is desired, especially useful for naturalizing. For about a month in mid-summer, the white umbel flowers attract a variety of native bees, flies, and wasps. This carrot family perennial features tuberous roots and grows between 1-3’ tall.  Leaves are trifoliate and compound, while flowers are tiny white umbels. It is often found in moist forests, rich woods, ledges, bluffs, ravines, and along streams. After flowering, blackish, oblong fruits appear. The species is a host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly. White native to New England, its status varies by state from uncommon to extirpated. The combination of honewort’s herbal usefulness along with its ability to attract a wide variety of pollinators as a rare native species makes this a top choice for shade gardens.

Edible Uses: Young stems and leaves are similar in flavor to parsley and can be added to fresh salads, boiled as a green, or added to soups, while roots can be cooked and eaten like parsnips. Seeds are flavorful and can be used as a spice.

Cultivation Details:  Too much sun can cause foliage to burn. It is tolerant of humid conditions, making it ideal for warmer locations. Plants can self-sow and form colonies, said to compete with garlic mustard under the right conditions.  Remove spent flowers if you prefer plants not to self-seed. 

Growing Requirements:  Thrives in dappled/part shade. Tolerant of nearly full shade.  Honewort does well in average soil, though it prefers rich, well-drained soils. Even moisture, with regular watering.