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Check these first
- Check if the soil is bone dry or soaking wet.
- Look for signs of pests on the undersides of the leaves.
- Assess if the plant has been in the same soil for more than a year.
Likely causes
Moisture Stress
Most likelyHow to tell: Leaves turn yellow and crispy if the plant is too dry, or yellow and limp if it is too wet. The yellowing often starts on the lower, older leaves first.
What to do: Adjust your watering to every 7 to 14 days, ensuring the soil stays consistently moist. Use a finger to test the soil depth before adding more water.
Nutrient Deficiency
PossibleHow to tell: The entire plant looks pale or yellow, especially the younger leaves. This happens when the soil has been depleted of nutrients over a long period.
What to do: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once a month during the growing season. Do not overfeed, as this can burn the roots.
Find out what's wrong with your upright hedge parsley
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is normal for the oldest leaves at the base of the plant to yellow and drop as the plant matures. Be concerned if the yellowing spreads rapidly to the newer growth at the top.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and provide a balanced fertilizer during the spring and summer months.
Upright hedge parsley: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your upright hedge parsley and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can trim them off with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. This also helps you monitor if the yellowing is continuing to spread.
- Does light affect leaf color?
- Yes, if the plant is in too much shade, the leaves may lose their vibrant green color and turn a pale yellow. Move it to a spot with brighter indirect light.
More problems with upright hedge parsley
- Why does my upright hedge parsley have white spots?
- Why is my upright hedge parsley drooping?
- Why is my upright hedge parsley growing so leggy?
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- Why are there bugs on my Torilis japonica?
- Why are my Torilis japonica leaves curling?
Back to the upright hedge parsley guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.