You can frequently see dill in potted plant mixes among the grasses or in your back garden. Still, in terms of development and look, it often confuses you with many common weeds or herbs.
The post for some plants that look like dill will help you to tell them apart professionally.
As such, you can figure them out better, know some alternatives to dill, and avoid harmful herbs sharing the same appearance.
Keep reading for more details!
Plants That Look Like Dill
Absinth wormwood, Salem rosemary, fennel, dogfennel, roman chamomile, cumin, tarragon, thyme, and summer savory are all herbs that look like dill.
But first, what does wild dill look like? This plant branches a lot of slender stems with soft and tiny leaves.
You might be stuck in differentiating some dill-like weeds in your garden, just like telling gardenia and jasmine apart.
Let your hair down, the answer is right below!
Fennel
First and foremost, the fennel or Foeniculum vulgare herb looks like dill. It has two categories: those that resemble vegetables and those that are natural herbs.
Indeed, fennel plants that look like dill have countless similar physical traits. In the late summer, Fennel develops clusters of tiny, yellow flowers.
This plant emits licorice and star anise-like aromas, making it a common spice in cuisine. They often use their leaves, stem, and seeds for seasonings or remedies for multiple recipes.
Wind can carry their seeds far, making them germinate and expand into robust plants easily. Fennel thrives in consistently sunny, wet conditions.
Dogfennel
What do dill herbs look like? One of the weeds that look like dill is Dogfennel, scientifically known as Eupatorium capillifolium. It is the Asteraceae family’s perennial herbaceous plant.
You can mistake the plant’s small, hairy leaves for dill.
Dogfennel’s fragrance is far-out, like dill’s, yet they’re poisonous to animals and humans due to the pyrrolizidine-alkaloids compound. Uproot them to safeguard the animals.
Because of its seeds’ wide spreading by the wind, dogfennel may shoot up in any setting. They may outgrow your garden in no time and choke out other plants.
Spray with herbicides to eliminate this plant. Also, dry and burn the plants after uprooting them so no rogue sprouts can take root in the soil and regrow.
Salem Rosemary
Many people mistake Salem rosemary, another aromatic herb, for dill because of their comparable. Rosemary Salem, or Rosmarinus officinalis to give it its scientific name, is a plant in the Lamiaceae family.
The herb often blooms in the spring with a maximum height of roughly 30 inches, blue flowers, and pointed leaves.
Bread, salads, cakes, stews, soups, and even ice cream may all include Rosemary Salem. Owing to their widespread use, they are frequently mistaken for dill.
Their leaves are broader and thicker than the dill ones. The flowers are a unique shade of blue rather than the more common yellow or green.
Roman Chamomile
Chamomile, or Chamaemelum nobile as its scientific name, is a flowering plant family Compositae’ member. This plant’s shelf-life can be up to 2-3 years, with a maximum height and width of 25 to 30 centimeters.
Owing to its similarity in appearance and aroma, while young, this plant is mistaken for dill plant. But it’s easy to distinguish them when Chamomile reaches full maturity and blooms.
Their blossoms evoke chrysanthemums in look, with their white petals and yellow stigmas. Countless delightful perfumes and digestive diseases, including nausea, appetite loss, and vomiting, need their help.
Its blossoms’ apple-like fragrance is worth adding to your landscape. Thus, they need not be uprooted.
Chamomile plants have a high tolerance for drought and heat and rarely require watering or other forms of maintenance.
Absinth Wormwood
The botanical name for absinthe wormwood is Artemisia absinthium. Depending on its kind, this plant may be annual, semi-woody, herbaceous, or grow in clusters.
It looks dill-like when young owing to its clustered, tiny, pointy leaves. Once it fully grows 30-50 inches tall, its hairy and segmented leaves characteristics show evidently.
Their yellow flowers, typically seen from early summer to late fall, are delicate and tubular. It can spice things up for the Absinthe wine and other cocktails, including Bask, Vermouth, and normal wine.
This plant’s taste blends itself nicely into drinks, which is one of its defining features. Thus, make use of these plants in your yard to create your passionate drinks.
Cumin
Whether you’re preparing Mexican, Indian, or Middle Eastern food, you’ve probably used cumin, a warm, earthy spice.
You may use cumin as a rub for meat and fish, in a stew or soup, or sprinkle it over the top. It’s flavorful with fried rice and curry as well.
Cumin, like dill, is part and parcel of flavorings in cuisine, making many can confuse these two, along with their similar leaves shape.
It doesn’t matter what soil you have; cumin will flourish. Seeds can be planted, or a blooming plant can be purchased. Because of its resilience, cumin thrives even in dry conditions.
If you reside in a warm environment, you can grow cumin inside year-round. However, it will die at temperatures below 50 degrees.
Tarragon
Here comes another relative of dill – tarragon. Although native to Siberia, this perennial herb is now cultivated worldwide.
The edible plants’ distinctive flavor is a staple in many dishes, particularly in French cuisine. A licorice taste complements robust meats like chicken, beef, and pork.
Fresh and somewhat anise-like, tarragon is terrific in salads. It tastes a lot like dill, but it’s a bit sharper. If you have enough light in your home, tarragon grows beautifully inside.
It may also be grown outside in a container. When the temperature drops, bring it inside.
Marjoram
Marjoram is another weed that looks like dill. This aromatic herb is linked to oregano but has a softer, sweeter woodsy flavor. Use it in recipes and foods that simmer low and slow, such as stews and canned tomatoes.
Roasting veggies with this herb is a delightful way to enjoy both the herb and the vegetables. It’s perfect for potato topping.
Of note, marjoram is a good culinary substitute for dill in pickling recipes. Amazingly, mature blooming plants emit a fabulous flavor.
It is quickly grown from seed or purchased as a blooming plant. Marjoram prefers a hot climate and wet soil.
Summer Savory
Summer savory rounds off our collection of dill-looking plants. This herb’s peppery taste makes it a great addition to hearty meals with stews and soups.
When roasting with veggies, it gives off an unforgettable scent and doubles as a flavor booster.
Also, summer savor complements other herbs, especially rosemary and thyme. It is a perennial, which is unusual for herbs.
It’s simple to cultivate dill relatives, as the dirt or a pot indoors are favorable for the plant. While full sun is ideal, dappled light can not hinder its growth.
If you’re keen on such topics about plants, like the Hong Kong orchid tree, our other post will astound you.
What Are Some Dill Variants?
Greensleeves
It has a strong aroma and a moderate flavor that characterize the Greensleeves cultivar. The maximum height can reach 30 inches, and it takes 45 days for the leaf harvesting and 100 days to harvest the seeds.
Delikat
This dill has thick leaves. It yields more seeds than other types. After 40 days, it may be harvested at 10-24 inches.
Bouquet
This lovely cultivar is often used in bouquets. People use it to make tea and decorations. Remember to harvest this variety after 60 days.
Dukat
Though slow-growing, it has a strong taste. The seeds take 100 days to harvest, whereas the leaves take 50.
Compatto
When you see it grow to 12-18 inches, it reaches its maturity with an aromatic scent and flavor. It is drought-resistant. Leaf harvesting takes 40-50 days.
Elephant
This gorgeous dark-leafed species bolts slowly. You may harvest leaves in 90 days but seeds in 140 days. This huge type may grow over 48 inches tall.
Hera
The leaves of this lovely cultivar can be either dark green or blue. It has a maximum height of 18 inches. The seeds need 110 days to mature, but the aromatic leaves take 60 days.
The Bottom Line
Dill is a common herb used as a seasoning in a broad range of dishes.
Its mild yet peculiar flavor has made it a key ingredient in countless dishes, whether soup, fish, meat, or salad. Still, it is often misunderstood due to multiple plants that look like dill.
Since some weeds in the garden may be toxic to people if allowed to spread unchecked, it’s crucial to keep a careful eye out for and get rid of any risks you find.
