# Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/parsley · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/parsley)

Parsley · بقدونس  
herb · exotic · family Apiaceae · grows 0.2–0.3 m tall, 0.2–0.35 m wide · moderate growth  
sun to part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 1 · drought 1 · shade 3 · ease of care 3  
Sow or plant: Oct–Mar  
Uses: edible, container

## Also known as

- **English:** Garden parsley, Curly parsley, Flat-leaf parsley, Italian parsley
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Petroselinum sativum*, *Petroselinum hortense*, *Carum petroselinum*
- **Arabic (العربية):** بقدونس, مقدونس (Maqdunis)
- **Hindi (हिन्दी):** अजमोद (Ajmod)
- **Urdu (اردو):** جعفری (Jafari)
- **Tamil (தமிழ்):** வோக்கோசு (Vokkosu)
- **Tagalog:** Perehil
- **Persian (فارسی):** جعفری (Jafari), شومخ (Shomekh)

A cool-season herb for Dubai: sow from October, cut leaves from about 60 days, and give it afternoon shade. Slow to germinate, and too hot to grow in the open from about May.

## About

Meet parsley, the herb that most kitchens use without thinking about it: a handful in tabbouleh, a green scatter over rice, a sprig beside the fish. Grown at home it is the slow starter of the herb pots. Seed can take four to six weeks to show, and then the plant settles into a tidy mound of deep green leaf that you can cut from again and again.

Its character is patient, and a little fussy about heat. It likes cool days, a spot that is bright in the morning and shaded in the afternoon, and soil that never dries right out. Give it that from October and it is ready to cut by December. Leave it in the open through May and it sulks, then runs to flower.

What it brings is everyday use more than looks: flat-leaf for the cook who chops it by the handful, curly for the plate, and a pot of either within reach of the kitchen door. Some swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on parsley, so a caterpillar on the plant is not always unwelcome.

Parsley is a cool-season herb in Dubai's calendar. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment lists field sowing in October and November, with harvest after about 60 days, and two Dubai guides stretch planting to March (BBC Good Food Middle East; Bustan Dubai). It is also one of the herbs the Ministry named for home gardens, with basil, mint, coriander and thyme, when it launched Plant the Emirates in October 2024 (Khaleej Times).

Seed is slow, taking four to six weeks to germinate (Wikipedia), so sow early in the window and keep the surface evenly moist while you wait. Soaking the seed in water overnight helps (Illinois Extension). Parsley grows a taproot, so sow where it will stay, or move seedlings with care. Dubai gardening experts quoted by Gulf News say leafy herbs such as parsley prefer partial shade and nutrient-rich soil, which in a pot means a potting mix with compost rather than sand from the garden. Plant [coriander](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md), another Apiaceae herb with the same Ministry window, beside it.

Heat is the limit. Parsley grows best between 22°C and 30°C (Wikipedia), and Dubai's average daily high is 33.7°C in April and 38.2°C in May, so the outdoor crop belongs to the cool season; Bustan Dubai rates its heat tolerance as medium. It is a biennial in colder climates and an annual herb in warm ones (Wikipedia), and most Dubai growers restart it each October, because in its second season it runs to flower and turns tough and bitter (Illinois Extension). Flat-leaf is more tolerant of rain and sun, and curly is the usual garnish (Wikipedia).

## Through the year

Parsley's year in Dubai is short and runs on the cool season. Seed goes in from October, and the Ministry's calendar gives about 60 days to the first cut, so October and November sowings are ready from December. Dubai guides keep planting open to March, which suits a second and third sowing, though later ones have less time before the heat. Cutting runs from December to about May, and aphids, whitefly and caterpillars are worth checking for from October to April. From May the average daily high is 38.2°C and the plant is too hot in the open, so the pot moves into shade or the bed waits for the next October.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Mar | Sow: Sow seed or plant seedlings | Ministry calendar: field sowing October–November. BBC Good Food Middle East and Bustan Dubai give October to March. Soak the seed overnight and expect four to six weeks to germinate. |
| Dec–May | Harvest: Cut leaves | Ministry calendar: about 60 days from sowing. Cut any time once the plant is large enough (Illinois Extension). |
| Oct–Apr | Pest watch: Aphids, whitefly and caterpillars | Check leaf undersides and growing tips; a strong spray of water knocks them off (Bustan Dubai). |
| May–Sep | Heat stress: Too hot in the open | Parsley grows best at 22–30°C (Wikipedia) and Dubai's average high is 38.2°C in May. Bustan Dubai rates its heat tolerance medium; a desert nursery guide advises afternoon shade for herbs in the hottest months. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not a summer crop in the open in Dubai. If you keep a pot going, move it into shade or indoors, as a desert nursery guide suggests for herbs in extreme heat, and keep it moist.
- **Watering in winter:** Check pots daily and water when the top 2 to 3 cm is dry; parsley likes moist, well-drained soil (Illinois Extension).
- **While establishing:** Keep the seed bed evenly moist for the four to six weeks the seed takes to germinate.
- **Soil:** A nutrient-rich, free-draining potting mix with compost. Illinois Extension describes moderately rich, moist, well-drained soil.
- **Feeding:** Start in a nutrient-rich mix, as the Dubai gardeners quoted by Gulf News advise, and feed lightly while you are cutting.
- **Pruning:** Cut leaves any time once the plant is large enough, taking the outer stems first (Illinois Extension).
- **Planting:** Sow October to March, soaking the seed overnight and spacing leaf plants about 10 cm apart. Sow where it will grow: the taproot dislikes being disturbed.
- **Pests and problems:** Aphids; Whitefly; Caterpillars
- **Toxicity:** Toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA: furanocoumarins can cause photosensitisation (sunburn, dermatitis), though large amounts are needed. Wikipedia notes that parsley seed contains apiol and should not be eaten, and that pregnant women should avoid excessive amounts; normal food quantities are safe.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Ready to cut about 60 days after sowing (UAE Ministry calendar)
- One of the herbs the Ministry named for home gardens in 2024
- Grows in partial shade, so it suits a balcony or a pot by the kitchen door
- Two types to choose from: flat-leaf for cooking, curly for the plate

**Cons**
- Slow seed: four to six weeks to germinate
- A cool-season crop outdoors: too hot in the open from about May
- Taproot dislikes being moved, so seedlings need care
- Aphids, whitefly and caterpillars visit it (Bustan Dubai)

## Common mistakes

- Expecting quick germination. Seed takes four to six weeks, and many people give up or resow too soon. Soak the seed overnight and keep the surface moist.
- Leaving it in full afternoon sun. Dubai advice for leafy herbs is partial shade, and a pot in baking sun dries out fast.
- Moving seedlings roughly. The taproot is easily damaged, so sow where the plant will stay or lift seedlings with the root intact.
- Keeping the same plants for a second year. They bolt and turn tough and bitter, so restart every October.
- Sowing late and expecting a long harvest. A March sowing gives about two months before the average daily high reaches 38°C in May.

## Good to know

- The Ministry's planting calendar lists parsley for field sowing in October and November, with harvest after about 60 days. It sits with coriander, celery and carrot under the Umbellifers family heading.
- The ASPCA lists parsley as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of furanocoumarins, though it says large amounts are needed to cause photosensitisation.
- Wikipedia notes that some swallowtail butterflies use parsley as a host plant, so caterpillars on it may be butterfly larvae.
- Curly parsley is the usual garnish and flat-leaf is preferred by some gardeners as easier to grow, being more tolerant of rain and sunshine (Wikipedia).

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Kitchen container herb, Bed-edge herb, Balcony pot, Cool-season kitchen crop

Put it where you can cut a handful without a walk: a pot by the kitchen door, the edge of a raised bed or a balcony rail planter. Give it bright morning sun and afternoon shade, and a pot deep enough for the taproot. Sow it beside slower crops so the bed looks full from the first weeks, and keep a second pot going so one can rest while the other is cut.

- [Coriander](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md): Another Apiaceae herb with the same October to November field window in the Ministry calendar, so the two share a sowing date, a shade spot and a watering routine.
- [Basil](https://plantguide.ae/plants/basil.md): Basil starts in the same month and takes more sun and heat, so grow it in its own pot by the same door and use the two together in the kitchen.
- [Thyme](https://plantguide.ae/plants/thyme.md): Thyme wants full sun and a dry root zone, parsley wants moist soil and partial shade, so keep them in neighbouring pots rather than the same one.

## FAQ

**When should I sow parsley in Dubai?**  
From October. The Ministry's calendar gives field sowing in October and November, and BBC Good Food Middle East and Bustan Dubai give October to March. An October sowing has the longest cool season.

**Why is my parsley so slow to come up?**  
Parsley seed is slow, taking four to six weeks to germinate. Soak the seed in water overnight, keep the surface evenly moist and be patient. Sow where it will grow, because the taproot dislikes being moved.

**Can parsley grow in the Dubai summer?**  
Not in the open. It grows best at 22–30°C, and Dubai's average daily high is 38.2°C in May and 41.9°C in August. Bustan Dubai rates its heat tolerance medium. Most gardeners restart it each October; a pot kept going should sit in shade or indoors.

**Should I grow flat-leaf or curly parsley?**  
Either works. Some gardeners prefer flat-leaf because it is easier to grow and more tolerant of rain and sun, and it is said to have a stronger flavour, which is disputed. Curly is preferred by others for garnishing.

**Is parsley safe for pets?**  
No. The ASPCA lists parsley as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The furanocoumarins can cause photosensitisation, though large amounts are needed. Keep the pot out of reach of pets that chew plants.

**What is parsley called in Arabic, Hindi and Urdu?**  
Baqdunis (بقدونس) in Arabic, ajmod (अजमोद) in Hindi, jafari (جعفری) in Urdu and Persian, vokkosu (வோக்கோசு) in Tamil and perehil in Tagalog.

## Related plants

[Coriander](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md) · [Basil](https://plantguide.ae/plants/basil.md) · [Mint](https://plantguide.ae/plants/mint.md) · [Thyme](https://plantguide.ae/plants/thyme.md) · [Dill](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dill.md)

## Photos

![Dense flat-leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum) growing in a garden bed](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Garden_parsley%2C_Auckland.jpg)  
Photo: Bjankuloski06 / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garden_parsley,_Auckland.jpg))

![Curly-leaf parsley seen from above, bright green and tightly frilled](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Krause_Petersilie.JPG)  
Photo: 4028mdk09 / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Krause_Petersilie.JPG))

![Close-up of glossy, deeply cut flat-leaf parsley leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Flat_Leaf_Parsley123_009.JPG)  
Photo: Celestebryant / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flat_Leaf_Parsley123_009.JPG))

![Parsley in flower, with pale green umbels on tall stems after the plant has bolted](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/20160620Petroselinum_crispum1.jpg)  
Photo: AnRo0002 / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20160620Petroselinum_crispum1.jpg))

## Sources

- [UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: Dates for Planting Vegetables and Fruits in the UAE](https://moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/56f7a89b/agriculture_calender_page_en.pdf.aspx)
- [BBC Good Food Middle East: A guide to growing fruits and vegetables in the UAE (herb planting months)](https://www.bbcgoodfoodme.com/how-to/a-guide-to-growing-fruits-and-vegetables-in-the-uae/)
- [Bustan Dubai: Parsley (UAE planting months, heat tolerance, pests; checked 2026-10-29)](https://www.bustandubai.io/plants/parsley)
- [Khaleej Times: UAE to help residents grow their own fruits and vegetables in home gardens](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/environment/uae-to-help-residents-grow-their-own-fruits-vegetables-in-home-gardens)
- [Gulf News: Winter gardening in the UAE, a budget-friendly guide (December 2024)](https://gulfnews.com/amp/friday/home/winter-gardening-in-the-uae-a-budget-friendly-guide-to-growing-your-own-vegetables-1.1733397053629)
- [Illinois Extension: Parsley](https://extension.illinois.edu/herbs/parsley)
- [Star Nursery: StarNote 215, Growing Herbs in the Desert (July 2024)](https://www.starnursery.com/StarNotes/SN215_Grow-Herbs-Desert.pdf)
- [ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, Parsley](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/parsley)
- [Wikipedia: Parsley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991 to 2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Kew WCVP (the checklist behind POWO), read via GBIF: Petroselinum crispum](https://www.gbif.org/species/206559410)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: بقدونس](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3)
- [Hindi Wikipedia: अजमोद](https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A6)
- [Urdu Wikipedia: جعفری (نبات)](https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AC%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%DB%8C_(%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA))
- [Tamil Wikipedia: வோக்கோசு](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%81)
- [Tagalog Wikipedia: Perehil](https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perehil)
- [Persian Wikipedia: جعفری (گیاه)](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AC%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%DB%8C_(%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%87))