Pastinaca sativa L.
Parsnip
Wild parsnip is a native British biennial of the carrot family and the wild ancestor of the cultivated parsnip. It is found on dry, often calcareous or neutral grassland, downland, railway banks, rough ground and roadside verges, mainly across England.
About
Wild parsnip is a native British biennial of the carrot family and the wild ancestor of the cultivated parsnip. It is found on dry, often calcareous or neutral grassland, downland, railway banks, rough ground and roadside verges, mainly across England. In its first year it forms a rosette and a long, pale taproot; in its second it sends up a tall, ridged, hollow stem bearing pinnate leaves and broad, flat umbels of small yellow flowers, the whole plant releasing a strong parsnip scent.
It favours full sun and well-drained, often lime-rich soils, tolerating poor and disturbed ground. Flowering through summer into early autumn, the yellow umbels attract a range of bees, flies, beetles and other pollinating insects. It suits dry meadow and grassland mixes and naturalistic plantings on free-draining soil. Note that the sap can cause skin to blister in sunlight, so it is best handled with care.
Also known as
Wild Parsnip
Synonyms
Daucus carota sativus · Heracleum angustifolium · Heracleum polyphyllum · Pastinaca fleishmannii · Pastinaca germanica · Pastinaca sativa heracleoides · Pastinaca taraxacifolia · Pastinaca tereticaulis · Peucedanum pastinaca · Peucedanum sativum
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.