Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 28, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Plants

Celery

Celery is a cultivated plant in the parsley family, Apiaceae, scientifically known as *Apium graveolens*.

Updated July 28, 20261 min readCited sources

Celery is a cultivated plant in the parsley family, grown mainly for its crisp stalks and edible leaves. It is used as a vegetable and flavouring in many dishes.

What it is

Celery is a herbaceous biennial plant in the Apiaceae family, native to the Mediterranean. It has ribbed stalks, divided leaves, and small white flowers. Cultivated varieties are selected for their edible stalks, leaves, seeds, or roots.

Why it matters

Celery is a versatile vegetable eaten raw or cooked, adding flavour to soups, stocks, and casseroles. Its seeds are used as a spice and for celery salt. In Canada, it is widely grown in temperate regions for cool-season production.

Key details

Celery is biennial but typically grown as an annual crop. It prefers moist, temperate conditions. Common varieties include stalk celery, leaf celery, and celeriac, which is grown for its enlarged root. Dried seeds are also used as a spice.

In short

  • Herbaceous plant in the parsley family.
  • Grown for stalks, leaves, seeds, and roots.
  • Native to Mediterranean, grown as annual.
  • Celeriac is a variety grown for its root.
Canadian angle

Celery is a widely eaten vegetable in Canada and is grown in temperate regions suitable for cool-season vegetable production.

Quick questions

What is celery?
Celery is a cultivated plant in the parsley family, used as a vegetable and flavouring.
Which parts of celery are edible?
The stalks, leaves, seeds, and in some forms the enlarged root are edible.
What is celeriac?
Celeriac is a cultivated form of celery grown for its enlarged root rather than its stalks.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/celery
    Supports: Scientific name, family, and culinary uses of celery.
  2. Penn State PlantVillage — https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/celery/infos
    Supports: Plant type, edible parts, native region, and general cultivation notes.
  3. Missouri Botanical Garden — https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=275981&isprofile=0&chr=19
    Supports: Relationship between celery and celeriac varieties.
  4. Royal Horticultural Society — https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/fascinating-facts-celery
    Supports: Botanical name, origin, and celery types.
  5. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/apium-graveolens/
    Supports: Native range and habitat of wild celery.