The Main Plant entry for Dills (Anethum graveolens)

This database entry exists to show plant data and photos that apply generically to all Dills.

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Annual
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 2 -45.6 °C (-50 °F) to -42.8 °C (-45°F)
Leaves:	Fragrant
Flowers:	Showy Fragrant
Flower Color:	Yellow
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Spring Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall Fall
Uses:	Culinary Herb Medicinal Herb Cut Flower
Edible Parts:	Leaves Seeds or Nuts
Eating Methods:	Raw Cooked
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees
Propagation: Seeds:	Self fertile Depth to plant seed: cover the seeds thin Suitable for wintersowing Sow in situ Start indoors Other info: doesn't like transplanting
Pollinators:	Bees

Common names

Dill

Photo Gallery

Location: Athol, MA
Date: 2018-06-27
#caterpillar #blackSwallowtailCaterpillar

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-06-13
#Pollination

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: Athol, MA
Date: 2017-08-20
I never knew dill flowers could be so beautiful. Pictures cannot

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2017-06-15
#Pollination

Uploaded by wildflowers

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Montana
Date: 01/31/23
Dill under grow lights

Uploaded by Retro67

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2012-06-18
If you look real close, you can see the butterfly egg

Uploaded by wildflowers

Location: Athol, MA
Date: 2017-09-07
Dill flowers after a rain

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: my garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-08-12

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by Gilgomez

Uploaded by joannakat

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: Kadlec Volunteer Gardens
Date: 2011-07-19

Uploaded by psa

Uploaded by vic

Location: my garden-zone 6b
Date: 2023-07-13
7 ft tall dill

Uploaded by jkporter

y Walter J. Pilsak, Waldsassen (from de-wiki) [GFDL (http://www.g

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by kylaluaz

Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Botanical Garden near Brussels)
Date: 2009-05-14

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2014-05-12

Uploaded by wildflowers

Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2020-06-28

Uploaded by Gerris2

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2015-03-25

Uploaded by wildflowers

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2015-07-25

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi

Uploaded by Joy

Location: South Florida
Date: 2014-06-21
I love using dill in my kitchen. This plant is also host to the e

Uploaded by MamaIve12

Uploaded by Catmint20906

Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2010-08-24

Uploaded by JonnaSudenius

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2016-03-11

Uploaded by wildflowers

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Long Island, NY
Date: June 2018

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Uploaded by stephanietx

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: my garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-05-22

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: my garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-27

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by Joy

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by wildflowers (North East Texas - Zone 7b) on Jan 12, 2015 1:05 PM concerning plant:

Dill seed is often direct sown in early spring although I like sowing dill in the early fall and overwintering it outdoors (with a little leaf matter for protection). It's a cool-weather plant, and here in Texas it will bolt when the weather warms up. I love using fresh dill when fermenting cucumbers (pickles). Too bad the dill is usually done weeks before the cucumbers are ready to go! But I've learned that freezing the plant is a good way to keep its fresh flavor. Dill can also be preserved in vinegar and later added to your pickles. Dill is also good in breads and soups and with fish, eggs, and cheese. In spring we like making dill and brie popovers. Yum. Also a good digestive aid.

The umbel-shaped flowers attract beneficial hoverflies and predatory wasps. A host plant for the swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
Although I don't have direct evidence to verify, it may be good for repelling squash bugs.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 1, 2014 7:38 PM concerning plant:

Anethum graveolens is a larval host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly.

It also reportedly attracts a variety of beneficial insects to the garden, including:
--Lacewings, which feed on aphids, mealbugs, thrips, small caterpillars, mites, moth eggs, and some scales

--Ladybugs, which feed on aphids, mealybugs, soft scales, and spider mites

--Parasitic mini-wasps, which feed on aphids, armyworms, codling moths, European corn borer, flies, gypsy moths, cabbageworms, and other caterpillars and insects

--Hoverflies, which feed on aphids

This plant also reportedly repels cabbage loopers, imported cabbage worms, and tomato hookworm.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Nov 15, 2011 10:19 PM concerning plant:

Dill is used primarily in the kitchen, but there was a time when it was used medicinally. Dill water made from the oil of dill is a folk remedy for infant colic as well as for digestive problems in older children. In the kitchen, dill is used as a pickling spice and to flavor sauces, salads and fish.

Do not confuse this plant with water hemlock or poison hemlock, both of which are poisonous.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
Catmint20906	On June 24, 2015	Bloomed
antsinmypants	On May 31, 2023	Seeds sown Into Garden One
antsinmypants	On May 25, 2022	Transplanted Into larger container.
antsinmypants	On April 27, 2021	Seeds sown In greenhouse

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