Why is this herb called parsley?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

January 24, 2003

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The ancient Greeks had two selinons—heleioselinon, marsh parsley, our celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) and petroselinon, rock parsley, our parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Plutarch wrote of parsley "...it is the custom to place wreaths of this herb upon tombs—hence the saying concerning anyone who is dangerously ill, 'He needs nothing but his parsley.'" ("Timoleon", The Age of Alexander, Plutarch, 1st century, trans. Ian Scott-Kilvert, 1973)

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Associated with death, the Greek, petroselinon, and Roman petroselinum, was dedicated to St. Peter, keeper of the pearly gates by early Christians. Peter was Christ's rock; "...upon this rock I will build my church..." (Matthew 16: 18) Early names reflect the religious connection: Old French—pierresill, pierre essil, and pierrecin; Anglo-Saxon—petersilium, petersilige, and petersilie; and Old High German—pedersilli and petrasile.

By the time of Middle English (12th to 15th centuries) the plant's names evolved to parcelye, persely, persley, and parcely—to name but a few. In modern English, the plant is called parsley; but many other European languages show a similar derivation: Spanish, perejil, French, persil, German, Peter'silie, Danish, petersille, Norwegian, persille, Swedish, persilja, Dutch, peterselie, and even Yiddish, petreschke.

Anyone can have fresh parsley for the kitchen, it is a great herb for container gardening. The Cooperative Extension Service of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, has a brochure on herb and vegetable gardening in containers. To learn how, click on the link:

http://www.rcre.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=fs055

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Italian Parsley Herbs

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Distinctive Dark Green Strain

More subtle grass-like flavor and aroma than regular parsley. Italian Parsley is an annual. 80 DAYS.

So much better than the dried and flash-frozen herbs in the supermarket!

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Comments: Annual. This flat-leaved parsley, not the curled garnish variety. A dark green strain; broad leaves. Good plant for windowsills. Very adaptable. More vitamin C per volume than oranges. Gentle flavor blends well with foods.

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Champion Moss Parsley Herbs

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Ideal Garnish

Conveniently compact strain produces frilly sprigs. Champion Moss Parsley is an annual. 70 DAYS.

So much better than the dried and flash-frozen herbs in the supermarket!

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Comments: Heavy biennial; usually grown as an annual. Gives good crop in full or partial shade. Compact plants.