Wild Parsnip
Pastinaca sativa
Also listed as Peucedanum sativum, Elaphoboscum sativum
Also known as Poison Parsnip, Parsnip, Common Parsnip
Climate Match for your location
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Wild parsnip is a tall biennial or short-lived perennial with yellow flower clusters and deeply lobed foliage. It is considered invasive in North America and can cause skin irritation when handled.
Why grow it
Wild parsnip is occasionally grown as a dual-purpose crop: the roots are edible when young and milder than cultivated parsnip, while the flower clusters attract pollinators. However, cultivated parsnip varieties (Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa) typically offer superior root quality and yield with less volunteer seedling pressure, making them the standard choice for most growers.
Watch out for
Wild parsnip thrives in disturbed soils and roadsides, so site it carefully to prevent unintended spread into neighboring properties. The plant self-seeds readily, so deadheading spent flowers before they mature can help manage volunteer seedlings. Like many umbellifers, it prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but can tolerate partial shade and poor fertility, making containment important in permaculture settings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Apiaceae
Native Range
Eurasia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Wild parsnip is a tall biennial or short-lived perennial with yellow flower clusters and deeply lobed foliage. It is considered invasive in North America and can cause skin irritation when handled.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Wild Parsnip grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Wild parsnip is occasionally grown as a dual-purpose crop: the roots are edible when young and milder than cultivated parsnip, while the flower clusters attract pollinators. However, cultivated parsnip varieties (Pastinaca sativa subsp. sativa) typically offer superior root quality and yield with less volunteer seedling pressure, making them the standard choice for most growers.
Watch out for
Wild parsnip thrives in disturbed soils and roadsides, so site it carefully to prevent unintended spread into neighboring properties. The plant self-seeds readily, so deadheading spent flowers before they mature can help manage volunteer seedlings. Like many umbellifers, it prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but can tolerate partial shade and poor fertility, making containment important in permaculture settings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Apiaceae
Native Range
Eurasia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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