- Botanical name: Anethum graveolens
- Common name: Dill
- Family: Apiaceae
- Plant Type: Biennial, Herb
Yellow
Green
- Key features:
- Aromatic foliage
- Attractive to wildlife
Also known as dill weed, dill, Anethum graveolens, is a commonly used herb, native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. It’s a dark green herb with wiry, thread-like leaves and a strong, distinctive taste. It was once used as an ingredient in recipes to treat coughs and headaches. These days it’s mostly used in fish dishes.
Dill is easy to grow. Sow seed under cover in spring, in plug trays or pots rather than seed trays, as plants tend to bolt if their roots are disturbed when transplanted. Plant out the plugs after all risk of frost has passed, in a sunny, sheltered spot.
As well as its culinary and medicinal use, dill is a fantastic plant for wildlife. Bees, hoverflies and butterflies all feed on its nectar and pollen, and caterpillars of the beautiful European swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon, which has recently started breeding in southern Britain, eat its leaves.
How to grow Anethum graveolens
-
Plant size
1.5m height
30cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do Collect seeds in August |
S
Do Collect seeds in September |
O
Do not Collect seeds in October |
N
Do not Collect seeds in November |
D
Do not Collect seeds in December |
| Harvest | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
J
Do not Harvest in January |
F
Do not Harvest in February |
M
Do not Harvest in March |
A
Do not Harvest in April |
M
Do not Harvest in May |
J
Do Harvest in June |
J
Do Harvest in July |
A
Do Harvest in August |
S
Do Harvest in September |
O
Do Harvest in October |
N
Do not Harvest in November |
D
Do not Harvest in December |
Anethum graveolens and wildlife
Anethum graveolens is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Does not attract Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Anethum graveolens poisonous?
Anethum graveolens has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Anethum graveolens
