Aphanes arvensis
Aphanes arvensis · Rosaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant aphanes arvensis: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Type
- Annual herbaceous
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to September
- Mature size
- 10 to 30 cm height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Origin
- Europe, Mediterranean region
Care
Sunlight
Parsley-piert appreciates sunny to semi-shaded locations. It adapts well to open areas and path edges. Direct sun exposure promotes more generous flowering.
Soil
This small herbaceous plant tolerates poor, well-draining and even chalky soils. It perfectly withstands dry soils and infertile ground where few other plants thrive. Soil improvement is generally unnecessary.
Watering
Parsley-piert is very drought tolerant and doesn't require regular watering once established. Minimal water is needed during prolonged dry spells. It makes do with the soil's natural moisture.
Pruning and maintenance
No real pruning is necessary for this annual. You can let faded flowers dry naturally or remove the entire plant at season's end. It self-seeds spontaneously if you let it go to seed.
Fertilizer
Parsley-piert requires no specific fertilizer. Its hardiness and adaptation to poor soils mean it thrives without nutritional enrichment. Excess fertilizer could promote vegetation at the expense of flowering.
Pests and diseases
This small herbaceous plant is very robust and rarely affected by pests or diseases. Its small size and natural vigor protect it effectively. Good air circulation prevents any potential health issues.
Did you know?
Parsley-piert is a discreet but remarkably opportunistic plant: it has colonized cultivated fields, fallow land and wastelands for millennia in Europe. Its tiny flowers, often unnoticed by passersby, hide great botanical resilience, and the plant has spread far beyond the Mediterranean region thanks to human and agricultural activities.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.