White Chervil
Cryptotaenia canadensis
Last reviewed: September 2026
White chervil is a shade tolerant forb that blooms with small white flowers from June through August, thriving in moist woodland soils under part shade.
Toxicity unknown
White Chervil (Cryptotaenia canadensis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 6"–18" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 33 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles, wasps
Deer
Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)
Before you buy
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White chervil is a native woodland perennial with delicate, parsley-like foliage and small white umbrella-shaped flower clusters. It thrives in partial shade and forms modest clumps that work well as a groundcover or in naturalized areas.
Growing White Chervil
Grow White Chervil in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
White Chervil takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Very informal appearance resembles weeds
- Delicate structure looks unintentional in formal settings
- May be mistaken for invasive plants by neighbors
Wildlife value
The small white flowers attract various pollinators including native bees, beetles, and wasps during summer months. Its seeds also provide food for small birds.
Common questions
- When does White Chervil bloom?
- White chervil produces its small white flower clusters from June through August.
- What growing conditions does White Chervil prefer?
- White chervil grows best in part shade with medium to consistently moist soil, often in the understory of moist woodlands or along shaded stream edges.
- What pollinators visit White Chervil flowers?
- Bees, beetles, and wasps are commonly observed visiting the small flower clusters of white chervil.
- Is White Chervil an evergreen plant?
- No, white chervil is a deciduous herbaceous forb that dies back to the ground each year and regrows from its root system in spring.
- What type of plant is White Chervil?
- White chervil is a herbaceous forb in the carrot family, typically found growing in clumps in shaded, moist habitats.
- Is White Chervil HOA-friendly?
- White Chervil takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow White Chervil? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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