Italian Parsley Plant

Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum), also known as flat-leaf parsley, is the workhorse of the herb garden. More flavorful and less bitter than its curly cousin, it's the variety most chefs and home cooks reach for—and once you've grown your own, it's hard to go back to the grocery store bunch. Fresh, bright, and endlessly useful in the kitchen, Italian parsley is a must-have in any herb garden.

SHIPPING INFO: Herbs primarily ship in May.

Why Grow Italian Parsley?

🍽️ A Kitchen Essential: Fresh flat-leaf parsley is a staple in countless dishes, from pesto to soups, sauces, and simple garnishes.

🌿 More Flavor Than Curly: Italian parsley has a bolder, cleaner flavor than curly parsley, making it the preferred choice for cooking rather than just decoration.

🦋 Beneficial to the Garden: In its second year, parsley produces delicate flower clusters that attract beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps.

Growing Information

🌱 Plant Type: Biennial herb, commonly grown as an annual

🌱 Plant Height: 12–18 inches

🌱 Hardiness Zones: 5–9

🌱 When to Plant: Spring, after last frost

🌱 When to Harvest: Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant is well established; harvest as needed throughout the season

Cultivation Tips

• Soil: Rich, well-draining soil with moderate moisture retention. Parsley appreciates a little compost worked into the bed at planting time.
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade helps prevent bolting.
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Parsley doesn't like to fully dry out, especially during hot spells.
• Harvesting: Always harvest from the outside of the plant inward, snipping stems at the base rather than just the leaves. This encourages continuous new growth from the center. Pinch off any flower buds that appear in the first year to keep the plant focused on leaf production.
• Second year: As a biennial, parsley will overwinter in mild climates and flower in its second year. At that point the leaves become less flavorful, so most gardeners treat parsley as an annual and replant every year.
• Nutritional note: Parsley is surprisingly nutrient-dense for an herb, with good amounts of vitamins A, C, and K. It's more than just a garnish.

Our Italian parsley is greenhouse-grown and arrives as an established plug in a 3" pot, ready to go straight into your garden or container.

Non-GMO Commitment: At The Farm on Central, all our plants are guaranteed non-GMO and not genetically modified in any way, upholding natural breeding methods and promoting sustainable gardening and farming practices.