Parsley.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Herb

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 2 to 4 days

Mature size

12 to 18 inches

Growth rate

Medium

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant needs more light or better drainage. Harvest the outer stems first to encourage the center to keep producing new growth.

Watering

Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

Pruning

Snip off outer stems regularly to promote bushy growth and prevent flowering.

Repotting

Repot once a year if you are keeping it in a container to refresh the soil.

Soil

Rich, well-draining, loamy soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.0

Safety

Pets

Parsley is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested in large quantities due to furanocoumarins.

Edibility

While parsley is edible, always be certain of your identification before consuming any plant. Some plants can look similar but be toxic.

How to identify it

• Bright green deeply divided leaves
• Leaf edges are ruffled or flat
• Stems grow from a central crown
• Small yellow flowers on tall stalks

Common problems

• Why are my parsley leaves turning yellow?
• Why is my parsley plant looking so leggy?
• Why are my parsley leaves getting brown tips?

Grows well with

• Tomatoes — Parsley is said to improve tomato flavor and repel tomato hornworms.
• Asparagus — Parsley may deter asparagus beetles.
• Corn — Parsley can attract beneficial insects that prey on corn pests.
• Roses — Parsley is thought to benefit roses by attracting beneficial insects.

Keep away from

• Mint — Mint can be quite aggressive and may spread too much in the vicinity of parsley.

Similar species

• Cilantro — Both have finely divided leaves and are popular herbs, though cilantro has a distinctively different aroma and flavor.
• Chervil — Chervil has delicate, fern-like leaves similar to parsley but usually with a more subtle anise-like flavor.
• Fennel — Young fennel foliage can resemble parsley but typically has a stronger anise scent.

Science

Family

Apiaceae

Genus

Petroselinum

Order

Apiales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Value to wildlife

nectar source, larval host plant for swallowtail butterflies

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Good to know

• Parsley is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region and was once used medicinally.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs