Celeriac Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
Celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) is a biennial vegetable in the Apiaceae family, native to Mediterranean and southwest Asia (celery cultivar group). It grows 40–60 cm (16–24 in) tall and 30–40 cm (12–16 in) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about -10 °C (14 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Celeriac in your garden →
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Celeriac at a glance
| Type | Biennial vegetable |
|---|---|
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Mature height | 40–60 cm (16–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–40 cm (12–16 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -10 °C (14 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 25 °C (77 °F) |
| Flowering | about 57–71 weeks after planting, for 4–6 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 150 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: swollen stem base, leaves, seeds |
| Native to | Mediterranean and southwest Asia (celery cultivar group) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇷🇺 Russia |
Is Celeriac toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
- Parts: sap of leaves
Sap can cause skin sensitivity to sunlight (furanocoumarins); celery-family allergy occurs in some people.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Celeriac
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Shared pests and diseases
- Carrot fly: Carrot fly also attacks parsnip, celery and parsley; mesh or barriers protect them all. Evidence B
Questions about Celeriac
- How far apart should I plant Celeriac?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–40 cm (12–16 in).
- Does Celeriac need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Celeriac need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Celeriac?
- It tolerates about -10 °C (14 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8. As a biennial it is usually planted out after the last frost and flowers in its second year.
- When does Celeriac flower?
- About 57–71 weeks after planting, for 4–6 weeks.
- Is Celeriac poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people mildly toxic. Sap can cause skin sensitivity to sunlight (furanocoumarins); celery-family allergy occurs in some people.
- What grows well with Celeriac?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Celeriac. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
Notes and assumptions
- Started indoors and transplanted after frost; Kc taken from FAO-56 celery. Harvested before hard frost or mulched through winter.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Carrot Daucus carota subsp. sativus
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum
- Celery Apium graveolens
- Coriander (cilantro) Coriandrum sativum
- Dill Anethum graveolens
- Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
- Florence fennel Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
- Mitsuba Cryptotaenia japonica