Is this plant invasive?

It can become aggressive in disturbed areas and is considered a weed in many gardens.

Pull the plants before they set seed to prevent them from spreading.

Plant guide

Upright hedge parsley.

Torilis japonica

Pronounced toh-RYE-liss jah-PON-ih-kah

Also known as Erect hedgeparsley, Hedge Parsley, Japanese hedge parsely, Japanese hedge-parsley, Upright Hedge-parsley, erect hedge-parsley

upright hedge-parsley — Photo by Patrick Hacker (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This plant is a biennial herb often found in woodlands and along roadsides. It produces delicate white flower clusters that eventually turn into small, burr like seeds. You will often see it growing as a weed in disturbed areas.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Biennial herb
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

It is a hardy plant that thrives in most soil types without much fuss. Keep an eye out for its rapid spread, as it can easily become invasive in your garden. Ensure it has enough space to grow since it can get quite tall.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Feeding: It generally does not require extra feeding in fertile soil.
Pruning: Remove flower heads before they set seed to prevent unwanted spread.
Repotting: It is rarely grown in containers, but move to a larger pot if roots become crowded.
Soil: Well drained loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -20 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual or biennial, typically 1 to 2 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic but may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Children: The hooked seeds are a nuisance and can stick to clothing or skin, though they are not inherently dangerous to children.
Contact allergens: The foliage can cause skin irritation upon contact for some people.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and can be easily confused with toxic members of the carrot family.

How to identify it

Finely divided fern like leaves
Tiny white flowers in umbels
Small hooked burrs on seeds
Hairy stems and foliage
Upright branching growth habit

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · A fungal infection that creates a white dusty coating on the leaves.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: As an annual or biennial, the plant will die back naturally after setting seed. No special winter protection is needed.
In containers: It is not recommended for containers as it is a short-lived weed that spreads rapidly.

Seed

Collect mature seeds in late autumn.
Sow seeds directly into disturbed soil in the fall.
Ensure the soil remains moist until germination in spring.

It is best kept in a wild meadow area rather than a formal garden bed to manage its aggressive seeding habit.

Grows well with

Common Nettle · They often grow together in similar disturbed woodland edge habitats.
Cow Parsley · They share similar ecological requirements in hedgerows and meadows.

Similar species

Wild Carrot · It has a similar appearance but lacks the distinct hooked bristles on the fruit.

Science

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Torilis
Order: Apiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Temperate regions of Asia and Europe.
Conservation: It is considered a common weed in many regions and is not of conservation concern.

It acts as a colonizer in disturbed habitats, woodland margins, and hedgerows.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: wildlife garden, meadow planting

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant invasive?: It can become aggressive in disturbed areas and is considered a weed in many gardens.
How do I control it?: Pull the plants before they set seed to prevent them from spreading.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Torilis comes from the Greek word for a type of plant, while japonica indicates its prevalence in Japan.

Good to know

It is commonly known as upright hedge parsley.
The seeds are highly effective at hitchhiking on passing animals.
It thrives in disturbed soil and woodland edges.

Keep your upright hedge parsley growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.