Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Botany

Parsley

Parsley is a biennial herb in the carrot family, scientifically known as *Petroselinum crispum*.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Parsley is a hardy biennial herb in the carrot family, native to the Mediterranean. It is widely cultivated for its aromatic leaves and used as a culinary herb and garnish.

What is parsley?

Parsley (*Petroselinum crispum*) is a biennial plant in the Apiaceae family. It grows divided, aromatic leaves in its first year and flowers in the second. The two main culinary forms are curly-leaved and flat-leaved parsley; Hamburg parsley is grown for its edible root.

How is parsley used?

Parsley is commonly used fresh or dried in soups, salads, sauces, meats, fish, and vegetable dishes. It is a key ingredient in herb blends like bouquet garni and fines herbes, and is often used as a garnish. Its leaves are also a source of vitamins A and C and iron.

Cultivation and varieties

Parsley is grown in gardens and containers and is treated as an annual for leaf harvest, though it is a biennial. The three main varieties are curly-leaved, flat-leaved, and root (Hamburg) parsley. In Canada, it is a common garden plant and widely available in grocery stores.

In short

  • Parsley is a biennial herb in the carrot family, native to the Mediterranean.
  • It is used as a culinary herb and garnish, fresh or dried.
  • Curly-leaved and flat-leaved are the main types; Hamburg parsley is grown for its root.
  • Parsley is rich in vitamins A, C, and iron.
Canadian angle

Parsley is widely grown and sold in Canada as a common culinary herb, and it is also a familiar garden plant in Canadian herb and vegetable beds.

Quick questions

What is parsley?
Parsley is a herbaceous plant in the carrot family, grown mainly for its aromatic leaves.
What are the main types of parsley?
The main culinary types are curly-leaved parsley and flat-leaved parsley; Hamburg parsley is grown for its root.
Is parsley annual or perennial?
Parsley is a biennial herb, though it is often grown as an annual for leaf harvest.

Sources

  1. Missouri Botanical Garden — http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=276060
    Supports: Parsley as *Petroselinum crispum*, native to Europe and the Mediterranean, and its culinary uses.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/parsley
    Supports: Parsley taxonomy, native range, biennial habit, and culinary uses.
  3. University of Wisconsin Extension — https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/files/2015/12/parsley.pdf
    Supports: Parsley as a biennial Apiaceae herb, leaf and root types, and nutritional notes.
  4. Royal Horticultural Society — https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/41248/petroselinum-crispum/details
    Supports: Growth habit, flower description, and cultivation characteristics.
  5. New York Botanical Garden — https://libguides.nybg.org/parsley
    Supports: Native origin in the eastern Mediterranean and historical use by ancient Greeks and Romans.