Flat Leaf Italian Parsley (Petroselinum crispum 'Flat Leaf Italian')
Pet-ro-seh-LEE-num KRIS-pum 'Flat Leaf Italian'

Biennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Mounding, Rosette-Forming in the Apiaceae Family
Bold, flat-leaf Italian parsley with a stronger, sweeter flavor than the curly type — a favorite for cooking rather than just garnish.

'Flat Leaf Italian' is a flat-leaf, Italian-type parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum) — broader, less ruffled leaflets than curly parsley, and widely considered to have the strongest, sweetest flavor of the cultivated forms. Like the species, it is a Mediterranean biennial grown as a culinary annual, forming a rosette of deeply divided dark green leaves 8-12in tall and wide.

Pros

  • Stronger, sweeter flavor than curly parsley — preferred for cooking
  • Easy to grow in full sun to partial shade
  • Larval host plant for black swallowtail butterflies
  • Rich in vitamins A, C, and K

Cons

  • Needs consistently moist soil; wilts quickly if it dries out
  • Seed germinates slowly and sometimes unevenly
  • Flavor declines once the plant bolts in year two
  • Mildly toxic to pets if eaten in quantity
Highlights The flat-leaf "Italian" type — broader, less ruffled leaves than curly parsley, with a reputation among cooks for stronger, sweeter flavor.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 9 - 12 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Needs consistently moist soil; does not tolerate drought or extended dry spells, especially in containers.
Zones 2a - 11b (Usually hardy to -50° F)
Tags Annual in Chicago, Attracts Butterflies, Biennial, Container, Deer Resistant, Edging, Edible Foliage, Edibles, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Butterfly Garden, Hanging Basket, Herb, Low Maintenance, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Potentially Toxic
Bloom Period Summer (2nd Year, If Bolted)
Flower Color Greenish-Yellow
Foliage Color Dark Green
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 05/17
2024 : 02/08 - 07/06
2023 : 03/02 - 07/08

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!