Parsley-piert is a low growing weed in the rose family that is native to Europe in disturbed areas as fields, lawns and wastelands. It is a small many-branched erect to sprawling plant growing only up to 8 inches tall. It grows and blooms during the spring and summer and dies down in winter. Spread is by seeds. It is tolerant of a variety of soils and prefers well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Tolerates both alkaline and acidic soils.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf margin
Lobed
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The short-stalked gray-green leaves have three segments each deeply lobed at the tip. Wedge-shaped base, bi-ternately lobed.
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Stipules form a leaf-like cup, enclosing the flower. The tiny green flower has four sepals and no petals in dense clusters in the leaf axils. Flowers April to Sept.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
The fruit is an oval pointed glabrous achene
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Many branched green stem
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Macronesia, Europe, Asia
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
Leaves can be eaten in salads. Collect spring leaves for eating and drying.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Previously and currently used in herbal medicine for kidney stones