Does anybody know what this weed is that is taking over my flower beds?

[Dollythehun]

DC, if she breaks the roots up, they may resprout from the pieces. JScott, I know that weed. However, my mind isn't working right now. I'll get right back to you...

Ok. I was right. It's Cow Parsley.

Anthriscus sylvestris

[JScott]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

DC, if she breaks the roots up, they may resprout from the pieces. JScott, I know that weed. However, my mind isn't working right now. I'll get right back to you...

Ok. I was right. It's Cow Parsley.

Anthriscus sylvestris

Yes! Cow parsley is it! I actually did till one end of the flower bed, hoping that I could just chop it up and kill it. After I tilled, I raked away all the pieces that I could, but the taproots are so deep, it was just a few days before it was coming back up, even more plentiful than before. I think I'm going to have go the herbicide route, as much as I hate to. Do you know if this cow parsley is actually in the parsley family? Will the swallowtail caterpillars eat it? If they will, I will definitely leave some for them, but I did a quick search and couldn't find any information one way or the other about whether it's a host plant for swallowtail larvae.

Thanks for everybody's help!