Appearance
The hollow stem grows to a height of 60–170 cm, branching to umbels of small white flowers. Flowering time is mid spring to early summer.The tripinnate leaves are 15–30 cm long and have a triangular form. The leaflets are ovate and subdivided.
Habitat
Cow parsley grows in sunny to semi-shaded locations in meadows and at the edges of hedgerows and woodland. It is a particularly common sight by the roadside. It is sufficiently common and fast-growing to be considered a nuisance weed in gardens. Cow parsley's ability to grow rapidly through rhizomes and to produce large quantities of seeds in a single growing season has made it an invasive species in many areas of the United States.
Uses
Cow parsley can be mistaken for several similar-looking poisonous plants, among them poison hemlock and fool's parsley.Cow parsley is considered to be edible, though having a somewhat unpleasant flavour, sharper than garden chervil, with a hint of carrot.
Cow parsley is rumoured to be a natural mosquito repellent when applied directly to the skin. However, it can be confused with giant cow parsley/giant hogweed, the sap of which can cause severe burns after coming in contact with the skin.
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