Celery Apium graveolens
Celery (Apium graveolens) is a biennial vegetable in the Apiaceae family. It grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and 25–40 cm (10–16 in) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 25 cm (10 in) apart.
Plan Celery in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Celery at a glance
| Type | Biennial vegetable |
|---|---|
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Mature height | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 25–40 cm (10–16 in) |
| Spacing | 25 cm (10 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 25 °C (77 °F) |
| Flowering | about 52–60 weeks after planting, for 3–5 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 120 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: stalks, leaves, seeds |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇨🇳 China |
Is Celery toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Celery is non-toxic to people and pets.
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 Celery
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade 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 Celery
- How far apart should I plant Celery?
- About 25 cm (10 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 25–40 cm (10–16 in).
- Does Celery need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Celery need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Celery?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9. As a biennial it is usually planted out after the last frost and flowers in its second year.
- When does Celery flower?
- About 52–60 weeks after planting, for 3–5 weeks.
- Is Celery poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Celery is non-toxic to people and pets.
- What grows well with Celery?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Celery. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Needs constant moisture.
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
- Coriander (cilantro) Coriandrum sativum
- Dill Anethum graveolens
- Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
- Celeriac Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
- Florence fennel Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
- Mitsuba Cryptotaenia japonica