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If yougrow cucumbersto can your own fix , then you ’re probably familiar with dill . A member of the celery family Apiaceae , dill ( Anethum graveolens ) is a popular choice for culinary herb gardens . However , it ’s sometimes originate as an ornamental thanks to its delicate yellow prime and fern - similar leafage . If you ’ve got a plant in your garden that you consider might be dill , but you ’re just not trusted , you may be surprised to learn that there are several plants that look like dill . Since dill has so many lookalikes , it can be helpful to know which plant life is which !
Chervil , thyme , tarragon , anise plant , cumin , and fennel are some of the most commonly grown herb that resemble dill . Certain medicative herbaceous plant , like chamomile and wormwood , are often confused with Anethum graveolens as well .
Dill
10 Plants that look like dill but aren’t
Dill is one of those self - sufficient herbs that grows very well on its own . Just plant your dill in full sun and in moist but well - drain soil , and the plant will thrive . Dill is a cool atmospheric condition - get laid annual that ego - seeds quite well . It has a classifiable citrusy sweet flavor with biting undertones of anise . This makes it a favorite among professional chefs and home cook likewise .
There are several miscellanea of Anethum graveolens to choose from , but the two most pop are Bouquet and Fernleaf . Bouquet is a favorite among muddle lovers , as its seeds and foliage are an idealistic spice for canning . The stems of Bouquet dill uprise around 5 feet tall , and it has nice large leaves . Fernleaf Anethum graveolens , on the other hand , is much more thick , reaching heights of about 2 feet . This type of dill weed process good in cooking .
If you ’re new to growing herb , you may be get worry telling them asunder . Here are 10 plants that calculate like dill , but actually are n’t . Being able to identify them will help you label your garden and use each herb appropriately .
Dill
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Of all of the plants on this listing , finocchio resemble dill the most . Fennel has fern - like leaves and long stem that grow around 5 pes magniloquent , just like Bouquet dill . When fennel blooms in the late summertime months , it ’s easy to confuse the plant ’s xanthous flowerheads for dill . The two plants even taste a lot alike . But , for all of their similarities , there are some spectacular difference between these two herb .
Fennel is one of several perennial that look like Anethum graveolens — and , in fact , they ’re related . Fennel is also a member of the Apiaceae family . But , unlike dill weed , common fennel grows from bulbs . If you pull a sprig up from the ground , you ’ll see a white incandescent lamp at the base of the plant , similar in show to garlic , greenish onions , orbok choy . If you ca n’t uproot a plant life to determine whether it ’s dill or Florence fennel , then the next safe way to distinguish them asunder is by flavour .
Although the two plant have exchangeable flavor profiles , they are n’t whole the same . dill weed has hints of anise , but with an undeniably , yet not irresistibly , bitter preference . Fennel is slightly milder with Glycyrrhiza glabra tinge . While Anethum graveolens is well - suited to seasoning pickles , sauces , and condiments , fennel savour comfortably when used in salads , soup , and stews .
Fennel bulb
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
Another member of the family Apiaceae , cumin may depend like dill , but that ’s where the similarities end . For starters , the two preference completely different . Cuminum cyminum is a thaw spice , idealistic for seasoning bean , casserole , chilis , and curries . It ’s a far cry from the refreshing flavor of dill . to boot , while dill ’s aromatic foliage is typically harvested , Cuminum cyminum is rise for its flavorsome seeds .
Cumin has lacey , feathery leaf , so it can easy be confused for dill weed at first glance . It ’s worth noting that cumin ’s flowerheads , while like in human body to dill weed , are normally white-hot , pink , or low . This annual herb is also similar in size to Fernleaf dill weed , maxing out at around 2 feet . Like fennel , cumin grow good in warmer growing zones , so it may not thrive in domain where dill can .
Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
If you ’re fresh to horticulture , then anise plant life may look like Anethum graveolens to you . A closer look will show you that they ’re actually pretty dissimilar . Anise is an annual herb with retentive oval leave . Plants uprise dense and bush - like at the stand , sending long stems up into the air , reach heights of 3 substructure . industrial plant bring forth flat - topped , rounded flower clump in shades of white and yellow . As with cumin , anise is broadly farm for its distinctive star - shaped germ .
As a fellow member of the sept Apiaceae , anise ’s relish visibility is unsurprisingly similar to dill ’s . But once you ’ve tasted the two , it ’s light to tell the dispute between them . recall , dill is citrusy and slightly acerb . Anise , by comparison , is sweet , hard , and licorice - comparable . Anise is idealistic for purpose in baked good and other sweet kickshaw ; dill would be wildly inappropriate for flavoring desserts .
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme plants look like dill weed to the untrained optic , but thyme is a appendage of the Lamiaceae house and a near proportional ofmint . So although unseasoned plant may resemble dill somewhat , mature thyme plant have a low - produce nature that distinguishes them from Anethum graveolens .
Thyme only hit 6 to 12 inch , although some variety can arrive at 2 metrical foot if all of their growing condition are met .
Thyme is a woody , perennial evergreen that spread easily , whether you originate it from seeds orcuttings . As with dill weed , thyme is harvested for its aromatic foliage . farewell and stems can be used overbold or dry , and are idealistic for flavor Pisces the Fishes , meat , stews , and vegetables . It tastes earthy and woody , with undertone of stinker and peck . Compared to dill weed , thyme is more sulfurous and less sweet .
Cumin
Once you ’ve tasted thyme and dill , you are n’t likely to confuse one for the other . But another thing that separated these two herbs is flower color . dill weed blossoms are typically yellow , and the flowerheads spread outwards from a central point . Thyme , on the other paw , produce bloodless , pink , and majestic flowers that bloom at the peak of woody stanch , similar toFrench lavenderandRussian salvia .
Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
Chervil is an annual herb with finespun frond - like leaves that resemble Petroselinum crispum , Apium graveolens dulce , and , of course , Anethum graveolens . Also called French parsley , beaked parsley ’s white flowerheads are sometimes mistaken for dill . Chervil typically grows 2 feet high-pitched at the most , similar to Ferneaf dill .
While dill ’s flavor could be line as “ rich ” , chervil ’s foliage is far more fragile . It has a soft taste , with undercurrent of licorice , great deal , andlemon . Chervil ’s subtle flavor makes it well - accommodate to ballock , fish , and fowl dishes . It ’s also used to season a mixture of sauces .
Anthriscus cereifolium grows best in partly funny locations when plant in well - draining soils . Although Anthriscus cereifolium and Anethum graveolens deal some of the same grow requirements , Anethum graveolens is hardy than beaked parsley , which makes it better suited to sunnier herb garden .
Thyme
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
Tarragon is a fellow member of the Asteraceae sept , which makes it a congenator of themarigold , thesunflower , and thedaisy . As such , it produces small individual composite flowerheads with petals order around a center medal . Tarragon is a recurrent herb that matures to summit of 4 to 5 feet tall . Its phonograph needle - like leave-taking and long , spindly nature stand for it ’s often err not only for dill weed but also forrosemary .
Often , plant that look like dill do n’t taste or smell like Anethum graveolens . But with tarragon , the opposite word is the causa . This herbaceous plant is gentle enough to key out from dill weed upon snug inspection of the foliage , but both herbs try out like . Tarragon and dill have a sweet , slightly acrimonious flavor , with anise plant and Glycyrrhiza glabra undertones . However , tarragon is commonly used to time of year sauce , marinade , and stews rather than kettle of fish , salad , and condiments .
Caraway (Carum carvi)
compare to Carum carvi , dill is hardier . Although both plants can grow in full Lord’s Day , Carum carvi can be pretty finical about which case of soil it like . If its growing conditions are not met , it can not reach its maximum height of 2 to 3 feet tall . The plant may also go to bloom , and if their lowly white and pink flowerheads go unpollinated , Carum carvi plants may not produce many seeds — which are harvested to expend in cooking and bake .
Carum carvi is a biennial plant , another member of the Apiaceae family . Also known as peak fennel and Persian cumin , caraway has a sweet , more or less sulphurous flavor . Although caraway has a pungent scent , it has a milder taste sensation than dill weed . Carum carvi is often used to mollify bread , cheese , soups , sauce , and , perhaps most notably , sauerkraut .
The caraway plant ’s fern - corresponding leaves and delicate stems mean it ’s frequently misguided not just for Fernleaf Anethum graveolens , but also for fennel and other relatives of thecarrot . Interestingly , caraway leaves are passably toxic and can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting when ingested .
Chervil
Salem Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis ‘Salem’)
Salem rosemary is a perennial evergreen that matures at 2 to 3 human foot tall . Its needle - like leave and elongate growth pattern make it look like to dill . However , Salem rosemary has a down tint to its leaf , unlike the bright kelly immature of dill . Rosemaryalso give rise blue , bloodless , violet , or pink flower deposit along the tips of its stems , rather than the small dome - mold xanthous flowerheads that are characteristic of dill . Rosemary ’s delicate fragrance throw it a hit withbeestoo .
In terms of gustation , Salem rosemary has a potent flavor with undertones of mint andsage . Salem rosemary is often used to primp up meat and potato dishes , as well as sauces and soups . This variety show of rosemary is especially democratic because it has a pleasant taste and a manicure appearing that make up it suitable for a variety of landscapes .
Like thyme , Salem rosemary belongs to the family Lamiaceae . It ’s closely related to sage , salvia , bee balm , sweet basil , andlavender , as well as a variety of other culinary herbs . While Salem rosemary may be confused for dill , it ’s a much hardier plant life , thriving in arenaceous , well - draining soils , full sunshine , and hot climates .
Tarragon
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Wormwood is also be intimate as absinthe , and it ’s used to produce the famous alcoholic purport of the same name . This perennial is a fellow member of the Asteraceae family and grows just about 2 to 4 feet tall . Plants produce yellow , drooping flower that stud the end of long stubble , and feathery , frond - similar leaves . When they bloom in later summer , these plants look a lot like Anethum graveolens .
Wormwood is n’t really a culinary herb , although it is used to flavour a miscellany of alcohol-dependent drinkable , admit wine , vermouth , bitter , and Margaret Mead . This herbaceous plant is used medicinally to treat gastrointestinal symptom like indigestion and evenCrohn ’s disease . Backyard chicken breederssometimes use wormwood twig to trace nesting boxes because it’sso efficacious at repelling lice and mites .
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Like wormwood , chamomileisn’t really used in cookery . Its flavor is so mild , gamey temperatures would destroy it . Chamomile is normally made into a tea and is used to treatanxiety , insomnia , anda variety of stomach outcome . Another reason many gardener uprise Chamaemelum nobilis is its fragrance . It ’s very popular in aromatherapy .
Chamomile ’s lacing - like foliage make it look a lot like dill . Only when chamomile blooms does it become easy to distinguish between the two . As a penis of the Asteraceae kinfolk , chamomile produce small daisy - comparable blooms , with flower petal surrounding a central medallion . Chamomile also has a low - uprise nature , so it does n’t get nearly as tall as Anethum graveolens . Even at its most unkempt , this perennial only grows about a foot above the ground .
Tips for identifying plants that look like dill
If you ’re newfangled to herbaceous plant and you ’re still confused about which ones are which , take a sojourn to a local nursery and familiarize yourself with the sweetness and appearing of common garden herbs . you’re able to also discover fresh sprig of a variety of herbs in the produce plane section of your grocery store to get habitual to their different tastes .
There are a figure of plants that look like dill , and most of them are edible . However , it ’s not out of the realm of possibility that a toxic industrial plant might resemble dill weed . So always be sure what sort of plant you ’ve harvested before using it .
‘Salem’ Rosemary
Wormwood
