Parsley is a biennial culinary herb, grown for the flavor it brings to the kitchen, ready to harvest about 75 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9, stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, even though the harvest is the prize. As a member of the carrot family, give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
5-9
pH Range
5.3-8.3
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
75
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What Parsley is
Parsley grows as a biennial and reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms yellow in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Parsley
Parsley grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and is ready to harvest about 75 days after planting. Parsley does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.3 to 8.3, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,100 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 70 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.3 - 8.3
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
75 days
Parsley; slow germ — soak 24h or strat.
Cornell; PrairieMoon
GDD Required
1100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
70+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant parsley in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Parsley prefers pH 5.3 to 8.3 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Parsley is ready about 75 days after planting (Cornell; PrairieMoon). Snip sprigs as you need them — regular cutting keeps the foliage tender and slows it bolting to flower.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — parsley isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Parsley offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Parsley thrives
Parsley is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–9·Where Parsley growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Parsley can grow in these states:
See if Parsley will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether parsley actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Parsley in my zone?
Parsley grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Parsley take to grow?
Parsley is ready to harvest about 75 days after planting (Cornell; PrairieMoon). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Parsley?
Most growers plant parsley after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 70-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Parsley need?
Parsley needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Parsley need?
Parsley prefers soil pH 5.3 to 8.3, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Parsley attract pollinators?
Yes — parsley's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Parsley safe for pets?
Parsley is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.