Parsley

A beloved herb known for its presence in many medicinal and culinary practices, parsley is a prime example of the multi-functional permaculture plant.  

Scientific Name: Petroselinum crispum
Common Name: Common or curley-leaved parsley
Plant Family: Apiacea
Etymoloy: petra from the Greek "rock" or "stone" and selinon for "celery;" from Vulgar Latin petrosilium, Latin petroselinum, from Greek petroselinon.

Traditional/Medical Uses

• Chewed parsley leaves act as a brath freshener
• Parsley tea promotes healthy digestion and circulation
• Infusions made with parsley leaves moisturize skin and hair when addee to conditioners and body lotions
• Leaves have antiseptic prosperities that can be used in a poultice for dressing wounds and insect bites
• Juice from the roots of the parsley have anti-swelling properties
• After childbirth, helps promotes lactation and contraction of the uterus
• Used as a diuretic, effective in removing stones and removing toxins from the body through the kidneys

Edible Parts

Flavorful and rich in vitamins and minerals, the crispum variety of parsely is often grown expressly for consumption; its large, carrot-like root, as well as its leaves, are edible. In culinary arts, parsley is often used as a garnish or seasoning. Parsley has a high content of vitamins A, B and C, iron, and magnesium.

Gathering and Using

Leaves can be removed from the plant's outer stems as needed once they have at least three segments. Fresh parsley can be stored by placing the leaf stalks in water and a cool place indoors, or parsley can be cut at the base and hung upside down in a warm, well-aired place to dry.

In addition to the many medicinal and culinary benefits, parsley can be used for a variety of cosmetic and other needs, including as an essential oil mosquito repellent, a treatment for dandruff, and an additive to perfumes.

Permaculture Functions and Considerations

Parsley is used as a border, container, and massing plant in landscaping. A dynamic accumulator, parsley makes essential minerals and nutrients from the soil more bioavailable by gathering them from the soil and storing them in their tissues.

Habitat

Petroselinum prefers moist, well-drained soil in areas of partial shade that receive a significant amount of full sunlight throughout the day. Parsley can also be grown potted indoors over the winter.

How to Identify

There are curly-leaf and flat-leaf varieties of parsley, and a variety called root parsley. In its second year, parsley will grow a flowering stem with small greenish to white blooms. It has a large singular root which resembles a carrot.

Wildlife Support

Petroselinum makes a great companion plant, as its small, fragrant blooms attract wasps and predatory flies that benefit a garden, among other insects and wildlife. Parsley is favored by black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.

Additional Information

• Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme- Simon and Garfunkel
• Growing parsley alongside roses is believed to enhance the scent and improve the health of the herb
• After the first year of its bloom, parsley leaves tend to become more bitter in taste
• Pregnant women should not consume parsley because it stimulates menstrual flow and can provoke miscarriage

Web Sources

• Plants for a Future
• Herb Society of America
• Merriam-Webster Dictionary
• Wisconsin Horticulture (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• New York Botanical Garden