Flower profile
Cow parsley
Anthriscus sylvestris
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.
*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.
- 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 110 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
Cow parsley gift ideas
Handmade cow parsley gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Cow parsley art print
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Cow parsley greeting card
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Cow parsley mug
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Cow parsley earrings
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Cow parsley embroidery pattern
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Cow parsley sticker
When does it bloom?
In Vermont, most flowering sightings come in May–June.
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?
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.
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.
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.
More Vermont flowers
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.