Cryptotaenia canadensis – Honewort of Wild Chervil – 1-Quart

A woodland species in the carrot family with great ecological value as well as being a human edible.  The small white flowers have only a subtle ornamental effect but they attract a wide variety of smaller native bees and other pollinators. Like other members of this family (we sell Taenidia, Zizia, Angelica, Osmorhiza and Sanicula) black swallowtail caterpillars (shown in the inset) feed on the foliage. Unlike chervil or French parsley, honewort is a perennial and leaves can be continuously harvested for use as a green or for seasoning. The parsnip like roots can be cooked and eaten. Seeds have an excellent flavor somewhere in between parsley and celery.  A close relative (C. japonica) named “Mitsuba”, is widely used in Japanese cuisine.