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parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Petroselinum crispum is an aromatic herb with an upright to clumping habit. Sources differ on its life cycle: it is mainly described as biennial, is often grown as an annual, and is also described by some sources as a short-lived perennial.

LightGrow in full sun to partial sun; moderate shade is beneficial in hot regions.
WaterKeep the soil consistently moist but well drained and avoid letting it dry out; pay particular attention to wilting in hot conditions.
TemperatureSources differ on the lower temperature figure, with the limited available evidence placing it at about -5 °C. The few available sources report an ideal temperature of about 11–20 °C and an upper temperature figure of ab
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Overview

Petroselinum crispum is an aromatic herb with an upright to clumping habit. Sources differ on its life cycle: it is mainly described as biennial, is often grown as an annual, and is also described by some sources as a short-lived perennial.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range in the Mediterranean region, with more specific accounts including the Balkan Peninsula, Greece, Algeria, and Morocco in northwestern Africa. It occurs in grassy waste ground, on walls, and in rocky environments, especially limestone and coastal areas, as well as widely in farmland, vegetable gardens, parks, and other human-disturbed environments. It prefers cool temperate conditions but can also be cultivated in subtropical and tropical conditions; growth may weaken in hot conditions.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, placing it at about 30–90 cm, while the few available sources report a mature spread of about 10–50 cm. The aromatic leaves range from dark green to bright green and are usually divided or pinnately divided; cultivated forms may have flat or curled leaves, with the flat-leaved form being the Italian parsley type. Flower stalks arise in the second year and bear compound umbels with many small yellow-green to pale green flowers; flowering is usually in summer of the second year and may continue into autumn. The fruit is reported to be flattened-elliptic to broadly ovate and is commonly called a seed in everyday cultivation.

Light

Grow in full sun to partial sun; moderate shade is beneficial in hot regions.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but well drained and avoid letting it dry out; pay particular attention to wilting in hot conditions.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ on the lower temperature figure, with the limited available evidence placing it at about -5 °C. The few available sources report an ideal temperature of about 11–20 °C and an upper temperature figure of about 28 °C. It is reported to have an RHS hardiness rating of H6.

Growing medium and mounting

It grows in fertile, moist but well-drained soil and can adapt to clay, loam, sand, and chalk soils; cultivation is recorded under acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions.

Feeding

It is reported that compost and slow-release fertilizer can be applied before planting, with additional feeding during growth according to the plant's condition.

Propagation

Propagate by seed, either by direct sowing from late spring through summer or by raising seedlings before planting out. Germination takes relatively long, and disturbance of the taproot should be minimized when transplanting.

Common problems

Swallowtail butterfly larvae may feed on the plant, and other sources list potential pests such as carrot fly. Seeds germinate relatively slowly, while hot, dry conditions can cause wilting or declining growth; after bolting and flowering in the second year, leaf quality and flavor decline. It is relatively sensitive to dryness and high temperatures, and young growth can suffer severe cold damage around freezing conditions.

Identification

Sources differ in their descriptions, but the target plant is characterized by aromatic, bright green leaves and belongs to the flat-leaved form, distinguishing it from forms with strongly curled leaf margins.

Photos

Petroselinum crispum
📷 Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen · Public domain · source
Petroselinum crispum
📷 H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Petroselinum crispum
📷 Vítor Jorge, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Vítor · CC BY · source

Sources