Common name: Dill
Family: Apiaceae, Carrot
Height x width: 3' x 18-24"
Growth rate: moderate to fast
Foliage: blue-green, very fine texture from needle-like leaf segments from leaves cut and divided many times, hollow stem (fennel has a solid stem, otherwise is similar)
Flowers: small and yellow in a highly-scented compound umbel 4" wide; seeds are elliptic and ribbed, 1/16" long
Hardiness: annual
Soil: well-drained, fertile
Light: sun
Pests and problems: seedling damping-off
Landscape habit, uses: lacy foliage for fine texture in borders, herb gardens.
Culinary--gather young leaves, pick flowering tops as heads begin to form, harvest seeds by hanging brown flower head over a cloth; dry ripe seeds, dry or freeze leaves; use flower heads or seed to make dill vinegar; use whole or ground leaves or seeds in cooking; use leaves or whole flower head for pickles; chopped leaves excellent in sour cream and cucumbers.
Cosmetic--chew to sweeten breath; crush seeds and infuse for a nail-strenghtening bath
Medicinal--use in a salt-free diet as salt substitute, use dill water for many stomach complaints and insomnia
Other interest: native to southwest Asia; genus name from the Greek anethon for dill; refered to in the Bible as a form of tax payment, used medicinally by ancient Egyptians and by Greeks for hiccups, used in Middle Ages to protect against witchcraft and by magicians, brought by early settlers to North America where in addition to culinary uses was given to children to chew on during long sermons.
Other culture: difficult to transplant due to long taproot, reseeds readily (harvest seeds before fully ripe to prevent), usually needs staking; plants bolt (flower and seed prematurely) in dry weather; sow monthly in rows 24" apart; don't plant near fennel as they cross pollinate and create off-flavors in seeds.
Propagation: seed (20.000-27,000 per ounce)
Species:
graveolens (gra-vee-o' lens)--Common Dill, main species
sowa (so' wah)--Indian Dill, more pungent and bitter than common
dill, used fresh in steamed rice and soups, grown extensively in India
and Japan, an essential ingredient in curry powder
Cultivars: (of graveolens)
| Cultivars | other |
| 'Bouquet' | dwarf (30") compact version of species |
| 'Dukat' | strong flavor, high oil content, dark green |
| 'Fernleaf' | dark green, 18" tall, slow to bolt, good in pots, AAS award |
| 'Hercules' | best fresh leaf variety, tetraploid, slow to flower |
| 'Tetra Leaf' | dark green, bushy, slow to bolt |
| 'Vierling' | bluish-green leaves, strong stems, popular cut flower in Europe |
Return to Perry's
Perennial Pages | HGPO
course | PSS123 course