Celery, Stalk celery
Apium graveolens var. dulce

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb up to 1 m high. It has leaf stalks with ridges and they are like a half circle when cut across. The plant is strong smelling. The plant is smooth and hairless. The leaves are divided into a compound leaf. The wild plant has leaves in tufts from the base or spread along creeping stems. The flowers are white and in small compound arrangements where each flower is on a stalk from the same point.

There are about 20 Apium species.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It is mainly grown in the highlands in the tropics. It grows up to about 2100 m altitude. It is damaged by frost. It often grows naturally in swampy conditions. In the tropical lowlands it grows as a small leafy plant but can be used for flavouring. Seed germination is best at 14-21°C. It requires a rich sandy loam soil. Because celery has shallow roots it needs plenty of moisture and does best in humus rich soils. It does best with temperatures below 26°C. It needs a pH between 5.8-7.0. It suits plant hardiness zones 5-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Chad, China, Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe (country/location of origin), Fiji, France, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary,India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sahel, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, USA, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaf stalks are eaten raw or used to flavour foods. The leaves can also be used for flavouring. The dry ripe fruit can be used for flavouring. e.g. in salt. The juice is blended with other vegetable juices. Caution: It is not recommended in large amounts during pregnancy.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Plants are fairly commonly seen in highland markets in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Leaves, stalks, herb, root, spice, seeds, vegetable, caution

How it is grown

Plants are mostly grown from seed and transplanted. Seedlings are spaced at 10-25 cm apart. To produce white stalks, the plant is wrapped up or soil is mounded up around the plant. Newer varieties will naturally form whiter stalks. Plants should be grown close together to keep sunlight off the stalks. This applies especially for the naturally whitening (blanching) varieties. The stalks are cut before the plant flowers.

Leaf stalks take about 9 months from seed until harvest.

Its other names

Local names

Hon k'an, Seledri

Synonyms

Apium dulce Mill.;