Flower profile

Cow parsley

Anthriscus sylvestris

Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Not native to Vermont

Cow parsley is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Vermont it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

20states where USDA records it

1,142VT sightings*

3,292U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Vermont

Quick look

Anthriscus sylvestris, known as cow parsley, wild chervil, Queen Anne's lace or keck, is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant in the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). It is also sometimes called mother-die, a name that is also applied to Crataegus monogyna. It is native to Europe, western Asia and northwestern Africa.
From Wikipedia's article Anthriscus sylvestris, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Apiaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 20 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Vermont. ^NatureServe
In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,142 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #75 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Vermont, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in Vermont (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (312 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Anthriscus cerefolium (“Chervil”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records cow parsley in 20 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Orange, Windsor.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Chaerophyllum sylvestre.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 70 counties across 17 states; the most are in Washington (15), New York (12), Pennsylvania (8).

More from the Apiaceae family (16 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot), Common cowparsnip, Poison hemlock, Common hedge parsley, Fennel, Rattlesnake master, Golden alexanders, Goutweed.

More Vermont flowers

Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot)

Daucus carota

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VT: July–September

Goutweed

Aegopodium podagraria

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VT: June–July

Wild parsnip

Pastinaca sativa

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in VT: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ANSY.
iNaturalist, Anthriscus sylvestris: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Anthriscus sylvestris (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Anthriscus sylvestris (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: naturalist charlie via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.