Plants

parsley

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss

Family: Apiaceae · Genus: Petroselinum

garden parsley

Placenta I Ground cover No biomass production

Biennial Apiaceae grown as an annual for its aromatic leaves. Pasini lists it in the low stratum of Tabela 3. Tolerates partial shade; consorts well with chives and tomato.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Ground cover
Strata: Ground cover
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 6–7
Preferred soil texture: Loamy

Morphology

Mature height: 0.2–0.4 m
Recommended spacing: 0.15–0.2 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Shallow
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: ≤ 2 years
Time to first harvest: 3 months

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Suitable
Cerrado Suitable

Köppen classes

Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Parsley takes the Ground cover stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

Prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil, pH 6.0–7.0. Grows in full sun or partial shade (welcomes afternoon shade in hot climates). Direct-sow or use biodegradable pots — the delicate taproot makes transplanting hard. Outer leaves are harvested continuously.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of parsley?

The first harvest of parsley comes around 3 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for parsley?

The recommended spacing for parsley is 0.15–0.2 m.

How tall does parsley grow?

At maturity, parsley reaches 0.2–0.4 m tall.

What stage and stratum does parsley occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, parsley belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the ground cover stratum.

Functions

Aromatic Medicinal

Propagation

Seed

Citations

Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
www.almanac.com (root_system, root_depth, ph_min, ph_max, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, light_need, cultivation_notes)
extension.umn.edu (ph_min, ph_max, cultivation_notes, waterlogging_tolerance)