Texas Prairie Parsley

Polytaenia texana

Texas-parsley, Texas Parsley

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Grassland, Woodland

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Comments

Biennial–lives 2 years, only flowers in 2nd year. In the celery family, its leaves resemble parsley. Seeds are flat, resembling rolled oats. Important nectar plant. Larval Host: Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2 to

4 ft

Spread

0.5 to

1 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Very Low, Low

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Biennial

Bloom Color

Yellow, Green

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Pleiotaenia nuttallii var. texana, Polytaenia nuttallii var. texana

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=POTE3. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=1252&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 4) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=29834#null

Native Plant Society of Texas