# Water Parsley (*oenanthe sarmentosa*)

Water Parsley is a tasty plant that grows near water! It has pretty green leaves that look like little parsley, making it fun to spot during nature walks.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands, marshes, and along the edges of streams and rivers.
- **Also known as:** Marsh Parsley, Oenanthe, Water Celery

![Water Parsley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oenanthe_sarmentosa_2946.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oenanthe_sarmentosa_2946.JPG)

## Appearance

The Water Parsley has bright green, fern-like leaves divided into many small leaflets. Its tiny white flowers cluster in flat-topped bunches, resembling delicate lace. It stands upright or sprawls, often forming dense mats along water edges.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Oenanthe

## Interesting facts

- Crush its leaves: Water Parsley smells just like fresh parsley from your kitchen!
- Hollow stems act like tiny snorkels, bringing air to roots even when submerged!
- Muskrats love munching on Water Parsley, especially its juicy roots and tender stems!
- This plant can grow different shaped leaves underwater compared to those above the surface!

## Special abilities

- **Spreading Roots:** Water Parsley can grow new roots from its stems when they touch water or mud, helping it spread fast and anchor firmly.
- **Water-Breather Stems:** Water Parsley has hollow stems and specialized leaves that help it survive perfectly in flooded wetlands and slow-moving streams.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 50-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Feeds on its small white flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Mixed Bumblebee (*Bombus mixtus*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from blooms.
- **Eaten by:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Feeds on stems and roots in wetland habitats.
- **Shelter:** [Northern Red-legged Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-legged-frog) (*Rana aurora*) — Uses dense growth for cover near water.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash your hands after touching unknown plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Water Parsley?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Water Parsley?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Water Parsley spread?

50-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on Water Parsley?

0.2-0.4 cm

### When does Water Parsley bloom?

Late spring to late summer

### Is Water Parsley edible?

No

### Is Water Parsley toxic?

High

### What is Water Parsley's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Colman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colman-park) — Washington, US · Park
- [Magnolia Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-park) — Washington, US · Park

## 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*)

---

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