Aethusa cynapium L.
Fool's Parsley
Fool's parsley is an annual member of the carrot family, regarded as native across much of Britain (and an introduction further north and in Ireland). It is a plant of cultivated and disturbed ground, turning up along arable field margins, in gardens and allotments, on waste ground, road verges and pavement edges.
About
Fool's parsley is an annual member of the carrot family, regarded as native across much of Britain (and an introduction further north and in Ireland). It is a plant of cultivated and disturbed ground, turning up along arable field margins, in gardens and allotments, on waste ground, road verges and pavement edges. It has finely divided, fern-like foliage that can be mistaken for true parsley or chervil, and small, flat umbels of white flowers. A useful identifying feature is the set of long, narrow bracteoles that hang down beneath each little flower cluster.
Flowering chiefly in late summer, it offers some nectar to small insects, but its real significance is as a cautionary plant: like its relatives hemlock and the water-dropworts it is poisonous, and the common name warns against eating it. It is not a plant to sow deliberately, but it is a natural and characteristic component of the arable and disturbed-ground flora.
Also known as
Fools Parsley · fool's-parsley · poison parsley
Synonyms
Coriandrum cynapium · Cynapium vulgare
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.