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Herb Partial Shade OK Regular water

Chervil

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Delicate French herb with mild anise flavor. Hardy enough to withstand light frosts down to -5°C, chervil performs best when daytime temperatures stay between 10°C and 18°C. It needs partial shade, though it appreciates some direct light and regular watering to keep soil consistently moist — leaves are ready for picking in about 40-60 days. A kitchen essential that grows equally well on a sunny windowsill, a balcony pot, or a dedicated herb bed.

Harvest 40-60 days
Temp Range -5°C — 22°C
Frost Tolerant ❄

Quick Answer: How to Grow Chervil

Chervil takes 40-60 days to harvest. It grows best in 10–18°C with partial shade ok and regular watering. Chervil is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -5°C. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Chervil in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Partial Shade OK
💧
Water
Regular
❄️
Frost
Tolerant
📅
Harvest
40-60 days

Temperature Range

10-18°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 10–18°C Tolerates: -5–22°C
Tropical suitable: No
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Bolts in heat -- grow in cool season or shade. Direct sow. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Aim for about 2.5 cm of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. Organic mulch around the base helps maintain even moisture.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: -5°C to 22°C
  • Optimal growing: 10°C to 18°C
  • Harvest in 40-60 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Chervil is frost-tolerant, meaning it can survive light frosts and even thrive in cooler temperatures.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is a cool-season annual that bolts quickly in heat — it genuinely thrives in the cool weather of early spring, autumn, and under cover in winter. It prefers well-draining, moderately fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Direct sow in situ (chervil dislikes transplanting due to its taproot) from late winter in a sheltered spot, or in late summer for autumn harvest. Scatter seeds on the surface and cover lightly — seeds need some light for germination. Sow in partial shade in warmer months, or full sun in autumn and spring. Germination is irregular; keep evenly moist for best results. Thin to 20 cm apart. Water regularly but moderately. Do not feed with high-nitrogen fertilisers as this produces lush growth with diluted flavour. Succession sow every 3 weeks from February through April and again from August through October. Chervil under cloches or a cold frame provides fresh herbs year-round in temperate climates.

Common Pests & Problems

Bolting is the primary challenge with chervil — the plant rapidly sends up flower stems in warm or dry conditions, after which leaf quality deteriorates. Prevent by sowing at the correct time (cool seasons), maintaining consistent moisture, and choosing shaded positions in summer. Carrot fly (Psila rosae) attacks roots, causing plant collapse — use fine mesh protection. Aphids occasionally appear on soft growing tips; treat with insecticidal soap. Damping off affects crowded seedlings in cold, wet conditions; sow thinly and ensure airflow. Powdery mildew can appear on older plants in dry summer conditions; prevent by siting in appropriate partial shade and maintaining even moisture.

Harvest & Storage

Harvest chervil by snipping individual fern-like fronds with scissors when the plant reaches 15–20 cm tall. Always leave the central growth bud intact to allow re-growth. Cut the outer leaves first, working inward. Chervil is at its best absolutely fresh — the volatile anise-like aroma dissipates dramatically within hours of harvest. Unlike most herbs, chervil loses almost all character when dried or cooked for extended periods; add at the very end of cooking. For short-term storage, wrap in a slightly damp paper towel and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Chervil freezes poorly. The best approach is to keep pot-grown plants on the kitchen windowsill for harvest seconds before serving.

Popular Varieties

Anthriscus cerefolium (the plain species) is the standard culinary chervil, producing upright ferny leaves with the characteristic mild anise flavour essential in classic French cuisine. Curled or Crinkled Chervil is a form with more elaborately curled, frilly leaves — slightly more decorative as a garnish, with flavour comparable to the flat type. Brussels Winter Chervil (also known as 'Vertissimo') is a more cold-hardy selection specifically developed for late-season and overwintering production under cover, with slower bolting and more robust growth in cold conditions. There are few commercially distinct varieties as chervil breeding has received much less attention than other culinary herbs.

Where to Grow Chervil

Chervil can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
Amsterdam, NL medium
Ankara, TR medium
Antalya, TR medium
Athens, GR medium
Barcelona, ES medium
Bari, IT medium
Belgrade, RS medium
Bergen, NO medium
Berlin, DE medium
Bilbao, ES medium
Bologna, IT medium
Bordeaux, FR medium
Bratislava, SK medium
Brussels, BE medium
Bucharest, RO medium
Budapest, HU medium
Catania, IT medium
Cologne, DE medium
Copenhagen, DK medium
Corfu, GR medium
Cork, IE medium
Dublin, IE medium
Dubrovnik, HR medium
Edinburgh, GB medium
Florence, IT medium
Frankfurt, DE medium
Gdansk, PL medium
Genoa, IT medium
Glasgow, GB medium
Gothenburg, SE medium
Hamburg, DE medium
Helsinki, FI medium
Heraklion, GR medium
Istanbul, TR medium
Izmir, TR medium
Krakow, PL medium
Kyiv, UA medium
Limassol, CY medium
Lisbon, PT medium
Ljubljana, SI medium
London, GB medium
Lyon, FR medium
Madrid, ES medium
Malaga, ES medium
Marseille, FR medium
Milan, IT medium
Munich, DE medium
Naples, IT medium
Nice, FR medium
Nicosia, CY medium
Oslo, NO medium
Palermo, IT medium
Paris, FR medium
Porto, PT medium
Poznan, PL medium
Prague, CZ medium
Reykjavik, IS medium
Riga, LV medium
Rome, IT medium
Seville, ES medium
Sofia, BG medium
Split, HR medium
Stockholm, SE medium
Strasbourg, FR medium
Stuttgart, DE medium
Tallinn, EE medium
Thessaloniki, GR medium
Tirana, AL medium
Toulouse, FR medium
Turin, IT medium
Turku, FI medium
Valencia, ES medium
Valletta, MT medium
Verona, IT medium
Vienna, AT medium
Vilnius, LT medium
Warsaw, PL medium
Zagreb, HR medium
Zurich, CH medium

🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
Almaty, KZ medium
Bali, ID medium
Bandung, ID medium
Bangalore, IN medium
Bangkok, TH medium
Beijing, CN medium
Busan, KR medium
Cebu, PH medium
Chandigarh, IN medium
Chengdu, CN medium
Chennai, IN medium
Chiang Mai, TH medium
Chittagong, BD medium
Chongqing, CN medium
Coimbatore, IN medium
Colombo, LK medium
Da Nang, VN medium
Dalian, CN medium
Davao, PH medium
Delhi, IN medium
Dhaka, BD medium
Dharan, NP medium
Fukuoka, JP medium
Galle, LK medium
Guangzhou, CN medium
Hangzhou, CN medium
Hanoi, VN medium
Harbin, CN medium
Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
Hong Kong, HK medium
Hyderabad, IN medium
Incheon, KR medium
Indore, IN medium
Islamabad, PK medium
Jaipur, IN medium
Jakarta, ID medium
Jeju, KR medium
Johor Bahru, MY medium
Karachi, PK medium
Kathmandu, NP medium
Kochi, IN medium
Kolkata, IN medium
Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
Kunming, CN medium
Kyoto, JP medium
Lahore, PK medium
Lucknow, IN medium
Manila, PH medium
Mumbai, IN medium
Nagoya, JP medium
Nanjing, CN medium
Nha Trang, VN medium
Okinawa, JP medium
Osaka, JP medium
Pattaya, TH medium
Penang, MY medium
Phnom Penh, KH medium
Pune, IN medium
Sapporo, JP medium
Seoul, KR medium
Shanghai, CN medium
Shenzhen, CN medium
Siem Reap, KH medium
Singapore, SG medium
Surabaya, ID medium
Surat, IN medium
Taipei, TW medium
Tashkent, UZ medium
Tbilisi, GE medium
Tokyo, JP medium
Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
Varanasi, IN medium
Vientiane, LA medium
Visakhapatnam, IN medium
Wuhan, CN medium
Xi'an, CN medium
Xiamen, CN medium
Yangon, MM medium

🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
Anchorage, US medium
Atlanta, US medium
Austin, US medium
Baltimore, US medium
Baton Rouge, US medium
Boise, US medium
Boston, US medium
Bridgetown, BB medium
Buffalo, US medium
Calgary, CA medium
Cancun, MX medium
Charleston, US medium
Charlotte, US medium
Chattanooga, US medium
Chicago, US medium
Denver, US medium
Des Moines, US medium
Detroit, US medium
Edmonton, CA medium
El Paso, US medium
Fargo, US medium
Fresno, US medium
Guadalajara, MX medium
Halifax, CA medium
Hartford, US medium
Havana, CU medium
Honolulu, US medium
Houston, US medium
Jacksonville, US medium
Kansas City, US medium
Kingston, JM medium
Knoxville, US medium
Las Vegas, US medium
Little Rock, US medium
Los Angeles, US medium
Louisville, US medium
Lubbock, US medium
Madison, US medium
Memphis, US medium
Mexico City, MX medium
Miami, US medium
Milwaukee, US medium
Minneapolis, US medium
Monterrey, MX medium
Montreal, CA medium
Nashville, US medium
New Orleans, US medium
New York, US medium
Oaxaca, MX medium
Oklahoma City, US medium
Omaha, US medium
Ottawa, CA medium
Panama City, PA medium
Phoenix, US medium
Pittsburgh, US medium
Portland, US medium
Puebla, MX medium
Quebec City, CA medium
Raleigh, US medium
Richmond, US medium
Sacramento, US medium
Salt Lake City, US medium
San Diego, US medium
San Francisco, US medium
San Jose, CR medium
Santo Domingo, DO medium
Saskatoon, CA medium
Savannah, US medium
Seattle, US medium
Spokane, US medium
St. Louis, US medium
Tampa, US medium
Toronto, CA medium
Tucson, US medium
Vancouver, CA medium
Victoria, CA medium
Winnipeg, CA medium

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
Accra, GH medium
Addis Ababa, ET medium
Algiers, DZ medium
Antananarivo, MG medium
Arusha, TZ medium
Bamako, ML medium
Bloemfontein, ZA medium
Cairo, EG medium
Cape Town, ZA medium
Casablanca, MA medium
Dakar, SN medium
Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
Douala, CM medium
Durban, ZA medium
Entebbe, UG medium
Fez, MA medium
Freetown, SL medium
Harare, ZW medium
Johannesburg, ZA medium
Kampala, UG medium
Kigali, RW medium
Kinshasa, CD medium
Lagos, NG medium
Libreville, GA medium
Lilongwe, MW medium
Lome, TG medium
Luanda, AO medium
Lusaka, ZM medium
Maputo, MZ medium
Marrakech, MA medium
Mombasa, KE medium
Nairobi, KE medium
Ouagadougou, BF medium
Port Louis, MU medium
Pretoria, ZA medium
Tunis, TN medium
Windhoek, NA medium
Zanzibar, TZ medium

🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
Asuncion, PY medium
Barranquilla, CO medium
Belem, BR medium
Bogota, CO medium
Brasilia, BR medium
Buenos Aires, AR medium
Cali, CO medium
Campinas, BR medium
Caracas, VE medium
Cartagena, CO medium
Concepcion, CL medium
Cordoba, AR medium
Curitiba, BR medium
Cusco, PE medium
Fortaleza, BR medium
Georgetown, GY medium
Goiania, BR medium
Guayaquil, EC medium
La Paz, BO medium
Lima, PE medium
Manaus, BR medium
Medellin, CO medium
Mendoza, AR medium
Montevideo, UY medium
Paramaribo, SR medium
Port of Spain, TT medium
Porto Alegre, BR medium
Quito, EC medium
Recife, BR medium
Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
Rosario, AR medium
Salvador, BR medium
Santa Cruz, BO medium
Santiago, CL medium
Sao Paulo, BR medium
Sucre, BO medium
Trujillo, PE medium
Valparaiso, CL medium

🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
Alice Springs, AU medium
Auckland, NZ medium
Brisbane, AU medium
Cairns, AU medium
Canberra, AU medium
Christchurch, NZ medium
Darwin, AU medium
Dunedin, NZ medium
Gold Coast, AU medium
Hamilton, NZ medium
Hobart, AU medium
Melbourne, AU medium
Noumea, NC medium
Perth, AU medium
Suva, FJ medium
Sydney, AU medium
Townsville, AU medium
Wellington, NZ medium

🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
Amman, JO medium
Baghdad, IQ medium
Beirut, LB medium
Doha, QA medium
Dubai, AE medium
Erbil, IQ medium
Jeddah, SA medium
Kuwait City, KW medium
Manama, BH medium
Muscat, OM medium
Riyadh, SA medium
Sana'a, YE medium
Tabriz, IR medium
Tehran, IR medium
Tel Aviv, IL medium

When should I plant chervil in my city?

The best time to plant chervil depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 10°C and 18°C. Since chervil is frost tolerant, you can plant it before the last frost date. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow chervil in winter?

Yes, chervil is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -5°C. In many climates, it can be grown through winter with some protection.

Get Chervil Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Chervil seeds and starter plants online.

People Also Search For

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Similar Growing Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about Chervil

When should I plant chervil?

The best time to plant chervil depends on your local climate. Chervil grows best in temperatures between 10°C and 18°C (can tolerate -5°C to 22°C). Chervil is frost tolerant, so it can be planted earlier in spring or later in fall. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can chervil grow in tropical climates?

Chervil is not well-suited for tropical climates. It prefers cooler conditions with temperatures between 10°C and 18°C. In tropical areas, it may bolt, fail to fruit, or suffer from heat stress. Consider growing it in cooler seasons or at higher elevations.

How long does chervil take to grow?

Chervil typically takes 40-60 days from planting to harvest. It requires partial shade ok and regular watering. Bolts in heat -- grow in cool season or shade. Direct sow. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Aim for about 2.5 cm of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. Organic mulch around the base helps maintain even moisture.

Find the Best Time to Plant Chervil

See the planting calendar for Chervil in these popular cities:

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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