Flat-Leaf Parsley
Petroselinum crispum
A bright green herbaceous plant featuring flat, deeply divided, triangular leaves with serrated edges and hollow stems growing in a rosette form.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, requiring about 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Moderate and regular watering; keep the soil consistently damp but not waterlogged. Tolerates brief dry spells once established, but wilts quickly if left too dry.
- Growth
- Biennial herbaceous plant usually grown as an annual, forming a basal rosette reaching 1 to 2 feet in height with a similar spread
Care instructions
Provide full sun to partial shade with consistently moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Water regularly to prevent the soil from drying out completely.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade, requiring about 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Moderate and regular watering; keep the soil consistently damp but not waterlogged. Tolerates brief dry spells once established, but wilts quickly if left too dry.
Soil
Rich, loamy to sandy soils with excellent drainage and a neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 5 through 9, often grown as an annual in colder climates
Growth habit
Biennial herbaceous plant usually grown as an annual, forming a basal rosette reaching 1 to 2 feet in height with a similar spread
Bloom season
Late spring to summer of its second year, producing small, pale greenish-yellow flowers arranged in compound umbels
Propagation
Propagated primarily from seeds sown directly in spring, though germination can be slow taking up to 3 to 4 weeks
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to root rot in poorly draining soils, leaf spot, and occasionally aphids or carrot rust flies
Similar species
Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium), which has softer, more finely divided leaves, and Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), which has distinctly rounded lower leaves and a different scent