# Parsley (*Coopericystis*)

Parsley is a leafy herb often used in cooking to add flavor to dishes. It has bright green leaves and a fresh, slightly peppery taste.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens, Farms
- **Also known as:** Curly Parsley, Flat-leaf Parsley, Garden Parsley, Italian Parsley

![Parsley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Petroselinum_crispum_003.JPG&width=800)

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petroselinum_crispum_003.JPG)

## Appearance

The Parsley has bright green, often tightly curled or flat, segmented leaves growing in a rosette. Its small, yellowish-green flowers bloom in umbrella-like clusters high above the foliage, making it visually distinct from many common leafy greens.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Echinodermata
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Petroselinum

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Greeks draped parsley on athletes and buried it on graves, not even eating it!
- Its seeds can take so long to sprout, earning parsley the nickname "the plant of patience"!
- Parsley was once so revered that some believed it could only sprout where evil had visited!
- Surprisingly, this common herb is a close relative of carrots, celery, and even parsnips!

## Special abilities

- **Aromatic Shield:** Parsley can release a strong, fresh scent that helps deter some hungry pests from munching on its leaves.
- **Sun Tracker:** Parsley has leaves that can subtly adjust their angle to catch more sunlight, helping it make plenty of food.
- **Deep Drinker:** Parsley has a long taproot that can reach deeper into the soil, helping it find water during dry spells.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-45 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Biennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees are attracted to its small flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** Black swallowtail butterfly (*Papilio polyxenes*) — Its caterpillars feed on parsley and other carrot family plants.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails can sometimes munch on parsley leaves in gardens.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

## Collections

- [Herbs](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/herbs)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking and eating any plant from the garden.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Parsley?

Compare leaf shape and arrangement, stem structure, flowers and growth habit. Some poisonous plants look a lot like kitchen herbs, so looks alone never prove a plant is safe to eat. Herb Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Parsley?

15-45 cm

### How wide does Parsley spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Parsley?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Parsley bloom?

Summer

### Is Parsley edible?

Yes

### Is Parsley toxic?

None

### What is Parsley's lifecycle?

Biennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Parsley: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/parsley)