Petroselinum hortense

RHS Plant Profile

parsley

Other common names

ache, devil-and-back-ten-times, garden parsley, herb of death, herb Venus, persli

Synonyms

Carum petroselinum, Petroselinum hortense, Petroselinum sativum

Annual Biennial Herbs - Culinary

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A hairless, clump-forming, bushy biennial herb with rich-green, crisped, triangular, 2- to 3-pinnate, aromatic leaves. The leaves are divided into segments, each to 3cm long. In summer of the second year, bears small yellow-green, star-shaped flowers in umbels 4cm across. Parsley is a popular culinary herb

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Apiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Petroselinum are aromatic biennials with broad, pinnate to 3-pinnate leaves and compound umbels of small white or pale green flowers
Name Status: Synonym
Plant Range: NW Africa, Balkan Peninsula

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist, but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Normally grown as an annual it can be overwintered although leaves become coarser in the second year. Follow parsley cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in situ, in succession from late spring through summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants

Pruning

Remove flowers unless wanted for seed

Pests

May be susceptible to carrot fly, aphids and celery leaf miner

Diseases

May be susceptible to a leaf spot and a virus