Gourmet Gold Dill
Anethum graveolens 'Gourmet Gold'
A stunning ornamental dill variety with bright golden-yellow foliage that adds both culinary value and visual drama to herb gardens. The vibrant color intensifies in cool weather while maintaining the classic dill flavor profile. Perfect for gardeners who want their herb garden to double as landscape decoration.
Harvest
40-50d
Days to harvest
Sun
ah-NEE-thum grav-ee-OH-lens
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
2-5 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Gourmet Gold Dill in USDA Zone 7
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Gourmet Gold Dill · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | — | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – July | — | July – October |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | — | June – October |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | — | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – June | — | June – November |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | — | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | — | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – April | — | April – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: ah-NEE-thum grav-ee-OH-lens. Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 2 ft. 6 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Dill fruits are oval, compressed with ridges and progress from bright green color to dark brown with age. They have a pleasant aromatic odor.
Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Schizocarp. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Fragrant
Harvest time: Fall, Spring, Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Leaves (dill weed), seeds, and flowers are edible (used in teas, pickling, and as culinary seasoning). Dill herb and dill seed oils are steam-distilled and used by the food industry as seasonings. Add to pickles, mince in butter, and cook with salmon, borscht, fish, and soups. Dill can be used in teas and as seasoning for butter, cakes, bread, vinegars, soups, fish, pickles, salads, etc.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh golden dill maintains peak color and flavor when stored in the refrigerator with stems in water, covered with a plastic bag, lasting 7-10 days. For longer storage, freeze whole stems in ice cube trays with water or oil to preserve both color and flavor for up to 6 months.
Air-dry small bundles hung upside down in a well-ventilated, dark area to maintain some golden color, though dried foliage will fade. The seeds store excellently when completely dried and kept in airtight containers for up to 2 years. Quick-blanching and freezing preserves more of the distinctive golden color than air-drying, making it ideal for maintaining the variety's ornamental value in cooked dishes.
History & Origin
Gourmet Gold Dill represents modern breeding efforts to combine ornamental appeal with culinary functionality, developed through selective breeding programs in the late 20th century. This hybrid variety emerged from the desire to create herbs that serve dual purposes in landscape and kitchen gardens, responding to the growing trend of edible ornamental gardening.
The golden foliage trait was selectively bred from naturally occurring color variations in traditional dill populations, with breeders working to stabilize the vibrant yellow coloration while maintaining the classic dill flavor profile. Unlike ancient dill varieties that trace back thousands of years to Mediterranean regions, Gourmet Gold represents contemporary horticultural innovation focused on aesthetic enhancement without sacrificing culinary value. The variety gained popularity among specialty seed companies and high-end restaurants seeking unique garnish options that provide familiar dill flavor with striking visual impact.
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer
- +Attracts: Leaves (dill weed), seeds, and flowers are edible (used in teas, pickling, and as culinary seasoning). Dill herb and dill seed oils are steam-distilled and used by the food industry as seasonings. Add to pickles, mince in butter, and cook with salmon, borscht, fish, and soups. Dill can be used in teas and as seasoning for butter, cakes, bread, vinegars, soups, fish, pickles, salads, etc.
- +Wildlife value: Larval host to the black swallowtail butterfly. Attracts beneficial insects such as bees, wasps, hover flies and butterflies.
- +Edible: Leaves (dill weed), seeds, and flowers are edible (used in teas, pickling, and as culinary seasoning). Dill herb and dill seed oils are steam-distilled and used by the food industry as seasonings. Add to pickles, mince in butter, and cook with salmon, borscht, fish, and soups. Dill can be used in teas and as seasoning for butter, cakes, bread, vinegars, soups, fish, pickles, salads, etc.
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Tomatoes
Dill repels tomato hornworms and aphids while improving tomato flavor
Cucumber
Dill attracts beneficial insects that control cucumber beetles and improves growth
Cabbage
Repels cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, and other brassica pests
Lettuce
Provides light shade for lettuce while repelling aphids and attracting beneficial insects
Onions
Both plants repel each other's pests and dill attracts predatory insects
Corn
Dill attracts beneficial wasps that control corn borers and other corn pests
Carrots
Dill attracts beneficial insects that prey on carrot fly and other root pests
Brussels Sprouts
Repels cabbage moths and imported cabbage worms that damage brassicas
Keep Apart
Fennel
Inhibits dill growth through allelopathy and cross-pollinates affecting seed quality
Lavender
Requires different soil pH and moisture levels, can stunt dill growth
Cilantro
Competes for similar nutrients and space, both bolt quickly in heat
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #172233)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally disease-free, good resistance to common dill problems
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, parsley worms
Diseases
Downy mildew, bacterial leaf spot (rare)