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Parsley-piert Aphanes arvensis

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Aphanes inexspectata
Phonetic Spelling
a-FAYN-eez ar-VEN-sis
Description

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. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#summer annual#low growing#spreading#annual weed#partial shade tolerant#weed#herb garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#summer annual#low growing#spreading#annual weed#partial shade tolerant#weed#herb garden
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Aphanes
    Species:
    inexspectata
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Previously and currently used in herbal medicine for kidney stones
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Macronesia, Europe, Asia
    Edibility:
    Leaves can be eaten in salads. Collect spring leaves for eating and drying.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Edible
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    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
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is an oval pointed glabrous achene
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    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.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    The short-stalked gray-green leaves have three segments each deeply lobed at the tip. Wedge-shaped base, bi-ternately lobed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Many branched green stem
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Weedy