Dark Green Italian Plain Leaf

Family: Apiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Dark Green Italian Plain Leaf to a garden.

Sink your senses into Dark Green Italian Plain Leaf Parsley’s lush, velvety foliage—deep, glossy green fronds that feel velour-soft in the hand and release a bright, herbal perfume when brushed.

This Italian Flat Leaf type forms an upright, finely textured rosette with broad, flat leaves and a clean, aromatic bite that shines in fresh garnishes and vibrant herb blends. Grow it for dependable, steady harvests around 70 days, perfect for enlivening sauces, finishing dishes, and pickling brines with its unmistakable parsley character.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Dark Green Italian Plain Leaf

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Dark Green Italian Plain Leaf Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This Italian flat-leaf is built for the last 30 seconds—its perfume stays lifted and its flavor comes through cleanly even when you barely touch it with heat. Chop it fine, hit it with acid or fat, and it turns everything from chicken to yogurt sauce into something that tastes freshly pressed, not cooked.

Best Uses

finely chop for a sharp fresh-greens garnish that doesn’t taste cooked or dull
fold into gremolata-style mixes and chimichurri for snap and aromatic lift
stir into herb butter or yogurt sauces, then finish with a squeeze of lemon
stabilize pickling brines and quick-refrigerator pickles with an unmistakable parsley note

Flavor Profile

bright, clean parsley bite velvety leaf texture with a crisp snap green, slightly peppery herb perfume finishes with a fresh, mouth-cleansing finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic olive oil butter yogurt chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Petroselinum crispum (Italian parsley) and what should I do?

Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum) often suffers from early blight–type leaf spots and downy/fungal leaf diseases when foliage stays wet and air is stagnant. Water at the soil line, keep plants spaced for airflow, and remove any heavily spotted leaves promptly; if spots spread, switch to a labeled fungicide for edible herbs according to the label and treat again after the interval specified. Also avoid working in the bed when leaves are damp to reduce spread.

How often should I water Italian parsley during its main growing phase?

During the main growth period, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for evenly damp topsoil as plants establish and then maintain moisture with lighter, more frequent watering. A good target is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) per week total from rain and irrigation, adjusting so the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) never fully dry out. If leaves yellow or droop despite wet soil, improve drainage because parsley in waterlogged soil is prone to root and leaf problems.

How can I tell when Italian parsley is ready to harvest?

You can start harvesting at about 70 days from sowing when the plants have formed a full rosette of dark green leaves with sturdy stems. Harvest in the morning by taking outer leaves first, cutting close to the base; this encourages new growth from the center. Continue snipping regularly, and stop heavy harvest once the plant starts sending up flowering stems.