Belonging to the same family of carrot, and celery (Apiaceae or Umbelliferae), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a cool-season crop popularly used in countless cuisines around the globe. Typically, chopped parsley is sprinkled on top of dishes as garnish, offering mild hints of vegetal flavor.

However, some parsley varieties are more flavorful than others. Growing this bright green herb in your home garden gives you access to tasty parsley cultivars that can be used in salad dressings, sauces, soups, stews, and stir-fries. You can also ensure your own parsley is organic when cultivated at home.

Common Parsley Types

Based on appearance alone, parsley varieties can be categorized in two common types. Both have subtle differences in taste and smell, which influence their kitchen uses.

Parsley with leaves that look like cilantro are considered flat-leaved. These varieties are characterized by their broad, plain leaves that tend to carry more aroma and flavor.

Moss curled parsley, or curly parsley varieties have wavy leaves and are subtle in aroma and flavor. Thus, curly parsley is more often used for garnishing.

Heirloom and Hybrid Parsleys

Like other culinary crops, parsley has heirloom and hybrid varieties.

Dark Green Italian Flat Leaf, Evergreen, Italian Giant, Mitsuba, Plain, and Plain or Single are popular heirloom parsley varieties usually sold in seed markets and grocery stores. For a certain variety to be considered heirloom, it should be free from cross breeding for at least 40 to 50 years. As temperature becomes warmer, parsley plants bloom white-to-yellow flowers that seed. Historically, heirloom seeds are passed down from generation to generation among ethnic, familial, or other social groups. Because you get similar characteristics as the parent plant, heirloom varieties are excellent for seed saving. 

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Heirloom varieties, however, tend to be less resistant to diseases and pests.

To alleviate these issues, agriculturists came up with hybrids. These are created through deliberate cross breeding between two plant varieties, allowing agriculturists to make improvements on disease resistance, flavor, growth, pest resistance, size, yield, and other traits. Examples of hybrid parsleys include Commun 2, Demand Agro, and Iris.

Get to know these different types of parsley, grouped by their unique characteristics.

Types of Parsley Leaf Shapes

As mentioned above, parsley plants can be categorized into two leaf shape types.

Types of Parsley Flavors

Parsley generally has a vegetal flavor, but some varieties are milder than others.

Types of Parsley Lifecycles

Parsley has a biennial lifecycle, but some varieties can be grown as either an annual or perennial.

Types of Geographic Origins

Parsley is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean, specifically in regions of Algeria, the Balkans, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Types of Culinary Uses

Parsley can be used as a versatile herb in recipes, or as an eye-catching garnish for your cooked dish. Flat leaf varieties can be dried to extend their storage life. In the United States, Hamburg parsley is commonly grown as a root vegetable and served as an alternative to parsnips and turnips.

Types of Disease Resistance

Some parsley varieties are more resistant to disease than others. Common diseases in parsley leaves include Botrytis blight, and Septoria leaf spot.

Types of Preferred Growing Conditions

Whether you have ample or minimal garden space, there’s a parsley variety for you to grow at home. Get to know their preferred growing conditions before buying your parsley seeds.

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These varieties have broad, flat leaves that offer stronger flavor and aroma.

Variety Description Days to Germinate Days to Maturity Where to Buy
Dark Green Italian Flat Leaf This Italian parsley does wonders as a culinary herb. Dark Green Italian Flat Leaf can be grown as a warm-season biennial or as an annual, ready for harvest in late spring to mid to late summer. This variety can grow 12 to 18 inches tall. 14 to 21 days 72 to 77 days Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market
Evergreen Reaching 12 to 14 inches tall, Evergreen parsley can elevate your soups and stews due to its unique, aromatic flavor. Leaves from this parsley variety can be dried to extend storage life. This variety is an All-America Selections winner. 14 to 21 days 70 to 80 days True Leaf Market
Italian Giant/Gigante D’Italia Italian Giant is an heirloom parsley variety traditionally used in Italian cuisine. Growing as tall as 3 feet, the upright stems can be consumed like celery.  14 to 30 days 75 to 90 days Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds
Japanese Mitsuba Japanese Mitsuba thrives in well-drained soil with moderate shade, especially in summer. You can sow the seeds in spring or fall. Other names for this Japanese parsley include Dento-yasai, Japanese hornwort, and Japanese wild parsley. 7 to 14 days 50 to 60 days True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds
Plain or Single Plain or Single grows smooth, flat leaves and crisp, slender stems that are packed with citrusy, peppery flavor. You can dry the leaves for later culinary use. This parsley can be grown in containers. 14 to 21 days 60 to 80 days True Leaf Market
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These parsley varieties have ruffled, thick leaves. Most cooks use fresh parsley as garnish to elevate food presentation.

Variety Description Days to Germinate Days to Maturity Where to Buy
Curled Suitable for indoor and outdoor planting, Curled is your standard curly parsley, excellent for garnishing. The bright-green leaves of this variety can add an extra pop of color to your meals without any overpowering flavor or aroma. This parsley variety is cold and drought tolerant. 10 to 28 days 70 to 80 days Eden Brothers
Forest Green Forest Green’s steady growth, reaching from 10 to 12 inches tall, prevents its curly leaves from catching dirt, allowing for a clean harvest. This curly-leaf variety is a good option for gardeners in areas with warm temperatures due to its drought and heat tolerance. 14 to 21 days 70 to 80 days True Leaf Market
Moss Curled Expect dense bunches of moss-like parsley leaves from this parsley variety. Moss Curled can reach up to 12 inches tall in a uniform, and compact plant growth. Expect a loaded bunch of parsley from this variety. 14 to 21 days 75 to 80 days True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds
Paramount A reliable variety, Paramount can be cultivated indoors or outdoors. This curly-leaf parsley adapts well under full and minimal sun exposure, and produces deep green, wavy leaves. 14 to 25 days 60 to 65 days Eden Brothers
Wega Wega is a non bolting parsley variety with uniform growth and upright plant structure. Sprinkle chopped leaves of Wega parsley to add texture to your food. 14 to 28 days  75 to 80 days Territorial Seed Company

FAQ About Types of Parsley

Which type is excellent for making dried parsley?

Flat leaf types of parsley are suitable for producing dried parsley because they can provide more aroma and flavor. Examples of flat parsley types are Dark Green Italian Flat Leaf, Evergreen, Italian Giant, Japanese Mitsuba, and Plain or Single. 

What are the characteristics of English parsleys?

English parsleys are characterized by their curly leaves that carry less flavor. Among the main types of parsley, these varieties are often cultivated for garnishing purposes.



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