Product Field NotesHerb Plants
Dill: Feathery Leaves, Pickling Heads and Swallowtail Food
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Dill is a tall, airy annual with soft, thread-like blue-green leaves and flat yellow flower heads 3 to 6 inches across. The scent is sharp, sweet and grassy with a hint of anise, and every part of it earns a place in the kitchen: the leaves for cooking, the green flower heads and seeds for pickles.
It is also one of the best plants you can grow for black swallowtail butterflies, so if you find striped caterpillars on it, congratulations. Plant a little extra.
Dill at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Anethum graveolens |
| Leaves | Blue-green, soft, thread-like and ferny |
| Flowers | Small yellow flowers in flat umbels, 3 to 6 inches |
| Size | 18 to 60 inches tall, 24 to 36 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July; sooner in hot, dry weather |
| Hardiness | Grown as an annual; self-seeds |
| Water | Moderate |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; black swallowtail host; deer resistant |
Dill near the lavender
Dill blooms in early to mid-July, right alongside the main lavender bloom, and the combination is lovely: flat yellow umbels floating above purple spikes. The two also bring in a crowd of bees and beneficial insects together.
Dill likes a bit more water than lavender and can grow up to 5 feet, so place it behind or beside the lavender rather than among it, where it will not shade the lavender or keep its crowns damp. A spot sheltered from strong wind helps the tall stems stay upright. Map it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Growing tips
- Light: full sun.
- Water: moderate. Hot or dry spells push it to flower early.
- Planting: handle plugs gently and plant where you want it to stay.
- Succession: leaf harvest ends once the seed stalk forms, so plant a few more a few weeks apart for a longer supply.
- Problems: few. Powdery mildew can show up in humid weather.
Harvesting for the kitchen and the canner
Snip leaves (dill weed) any time before the plant flowers. They are best fresh with fish, lamb, eggs, soups and potato salad. When the flower heads form, cut some while still green and fresh for pickle jars; let others ripen to brown seed for dill seed. Dill is rated good for cutting, and a few heads in a vase with lavender make a cheerful, fragrant bundle.
Leave a few seed heads in the garden and dill usually comes back on its own the next year.
Sizes offered
Dill comes as 3-inch plugs, 4-inch pots and 1-gallon pots. See the product page for current sizes and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Should I remove swallowtail caterpillars?
Many gardeners plant extra dill and share. The caterpillars become black swallowtail butterflies.
Will dill come back next year?
The plant dies after setting seed, but seedlings often come up the next year if seed heads are left.
Can I grow dill in a pot?
Yes, in a deep container. Expect smaller plants than in the ground.
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