The umbrella-like clusters of white, frothy flowers of cow parsley are a familiar sight along roadsides, hedgerows and woodland edges.
Species information
Statistics
Height: up to 1mConservation status
Common.
When to see
May to JuneAbout
Cow parsley is a hollow-stemmed, tall plant that grows rapidly in the summer before dying back. It likes shady habitats in particular, and can be found decorating woodland edges, roadside verges and hedgerows with masses of frothy, white flowers. These flower umbels (umbrella-like clusters) appear from May until June.How to identify
Cow parsley has large, flat umbrellas of small, white flowers, and large, fern-like leaves. One of several common members of the carrot family, this is the most abundant, and the earliest-flowering of the umbellifers.In our area
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