Landowner helpful tip: Wild chervil removal

Wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a non-native plant that invades roadsides, open woods, fields, and pastures. It can grow from 3-6 feet in height and has grooved, hollow stems that are covered in soft hairs. The leaves of wild chervil are fern-like and alternately arranged along the stem of the plant.

Wild chervil is most easily distinguished by the umbrella-shaped clusters of small white flowers, which bloom from late May through early July (a good time to identify the species, since most of the lookalikes bloom in the summer). This plant is in the carrot family and produces a thick taproot that can reach 6 feet in depth. Wild chervil reproduces mainly by seed and can re-sprout from root buds. The plant can cause skin irritation so use caution and wear gloves when handling it. 

If you only have a handful of plants, take care of them before they become a big problem:

1. Pull plants by hand and bag them on-site if seed is present. Dispose of plant material in a landfill to prevent the spread of seed.

2. Mow before seed is present. Repeated mowing is most effective. Mow at least three times a year and for subsequent years. 

If you have a larger patch, break the process down into smaller jobs so that you are not overwhelmed:

1. Foliar (leaf) herbicide treatment is the most cost-effective method of control, and should be spread over infested areas before seed is present. Follow product labels for mixing and application rate instructions.

2. According to a UW-Extension publication (A3924-23: Wild Chervil), foliar applications of herbicide are most effective when followed by shallow cultivation or tilling of the soil one week after spraying. Breaking up the root system of wild chervil increases the effectiveness of any herbicide treatment.

This Landowner Helpful Tip is brought to you by the St. Croix – Red Cedar Cooperative Weed Management Area (SC-RC CWMA). This is a group of landowners like you. For more information about the CWMA and invasive species, visit our website: http://scrcinvasives.org/.