Parsley

Origin: Central/Eastern Mediterranean

Family: Apiaceae
Scientific Name: Petroselinum crispum

Folk Names: Devil’s oatmeal, garden parsley, parsil, percely, persel, persely, persil, petersilie, petersylinge, petroselinum, rock parsley

Magical

Element: Air
Day: Wednesday
Planet: Mercury
Zodiac: Gemini
Associated Celebrations: Shadowfest
Deities: Aphrodite, Persephone, Venus

Parts used: Leaves

Magical Properties: Lust, protection, prosperity, purification

Substitutions: Mint

Lore

Parsley and celery are not always distinguishable in older texts, with the same names often being applied to both, from Ancient Greece through to at least the 17th century.

• In the Pyrenees, parsley was boiled in holy water to cure bewitchment.
• In Moravia, cows were fed parsley between St John’s Day (24th June) and the 26th to protect them from bewitchment.
• In Galacia (Spain), a bride would carry bread and parsley under her arm to the church to protect her from evil spirits.
• There are lots of beliefs associating parsley with death omens, collected from all around Europe, as well as USA.

Aromatherapy

Part Used: Seeds or leaves
Extraction Method: Steam distillation
Flash Point: 48°C

Scent Type: Herbaceous
Perfume Note: Middle
Scent Description: Woody-spicy, herbaceous scent

Warnings:

• Avoid during pregnancy.
• May cause skin irritation and sensitisation, dilute double for topical application.
• Phototoxic: Do not expose skin to sunlight for 12-72 hours after topical use.

Botanical

Type: Herb
Plant Height: 1m-35m
Leaves: Bright green, 10-25cm tripinnate leaves, with 1-3cm leaflets, either flat or curly
Flowers: Flowering spike with umbels of yellow-green flowers
Fruit: Ovate, 2-3mm long

Etymology: From the Ancient Greek petroselinon for “rock-celery” (petra = rock, selinon = celery).

In the Garden

Type: Biennial
Sow: Spring
Light: Full to partial sun
Water: Keep damp
Soil: Rich, well-drained

Tips:

• Plant seeds in final position, as parsley dislikes being transplanted.