Parsley thrives in full sun or indirect sunlight and prefers moist to moderately dry soil. In short, this famous herb is very adaptable. It even thrives in shade under certain circumstances. However, it’s important to make sure your parsley is not completely light-deprived. If you plant parsley in an area that never gets full sun, it may become withered, discolored, or its stems may grow abnormally long. Its leaf growth may even become stunted, resulting in odd-looking plants. Although full sun is needed, excessive sun exposure can also cause problems. Too much intense direct sunlight quickly ruins parsley. Fortunately, it often springs back to life when you offer it a bit of shade.
Table of Contents
How Many Hours of Sun Does Parsley Need?
Parsley should get some sunlight each day. 6 hours usually does the trick, but up to 8 hours is good for your plant. In the heart of summer, when temperatures are high, consider limiting your plant’s full sun exposure to 6 hours. This is particularly important if you live in a hot region.
- Give your parsley 6–8 hours of sunlight daily.
- Limit sun exposure to 6 hours at very hot temperatures.
- Parsley grown in the hot sun needs extra water.
Parsley grown in full sun dries out quicker than parsley grown in partial shade or indirect sunlight and could suffer from a lack of water. When the herb is grown in full sun, excess water is needed. Water it the moment the soil appears dry until you feel the soil moist. Parsley prefers temperatures between 50–70℉ (10–21℃), but will thrive in a broad temperature range provided soil and sun conditions are right. The more mature the parsley plant is, the better it tolerates the sun. No matter what age your parsley is, it’s still best to protect it from the excessive heat of summer and sun.
Can Parsley Grow in Indirect Sunlight?
Parsley can thrive in indirect sunlight if temperatures are warm. It’s important to understand, however, that a combination of cool temperatures and limited sunlight is bad for your parsley. It can lead to thin, spindly plants and discolored sets of leaves that offer less of the aroma and taste for which the herb is famous.
- Parsley does well in indirect sunlight.
- Don’t deprive your parsley of both sunlight and warmth.
- In cold climates, indirect sunlight is not a good option.
If you live in a cooler climate, it’s best to plant your parsley in full sun. When growing parsley in pots indoors, place it near a sunny window where it receives at least 8 hours of indirect light.
Can Parsley Grow in Shade?
Parsley needs some sun but it is also a great herb for shade as well. It can thrive in the shade if temperatures are above 50℉ (10℃). However, your plants may not reach their full potential if they never see the sun. This may cause them to become sprawling and leggy. When growing parsley in partial or light shade, trim the leaves back often to prevent leggy growth.
- If temperatures are above 50°Fahrenheit, parsley can thrive in shade.
- Parsley needs shade in warmer climates.
- Always use fertilizer, like this organic herb fertilizer, if growing parsley in full shade.
- Trim back leaves on parsley that is planted in shade.
A shade break is a good thing for parsley that is planted in the sunniest part of your garden, especially if you live in a hot climate. Always shade them during the hottest part of the day. If growing parsley in full shade, it’s essential to use high-quality fertilizer. Otherwise, lack of sunlight and depleted poor soil could eventually kill the plant.
What Happens if Parsley Doesn’t Get Enough Sun?
Sun-deprived parsley typically becomes discolored and might feature abnormally long stems. The plant’s overall growth may become stunted, leading to underdeveloped, small parsley leaves. This is opposite to the result you’re hoping for when growing parsley. After all, the fresh leaves are the part used in cooking.
- Discoloration often occurs if parsley has limited sunlight.
- Long stems and stunted leaf growth are telltale signs of too little sun.
- Revive a sun-deprived parsley plant by placing it in 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Leaves may wilt and then become dry and crumbly if your parsley is deprived of light. Too little light may also wither the root growth of the plant. If this happens, it’s difficult to bring it back to life. If the parsley is withering, but the roots are still white, place it in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours daily to revive it.
Can Parsley Get Too Much Sun?
It is possible for parsley to get too much sun. When this happens, limp stems and leaves appear during the hottest part of the day. This is usually because the herb is evaporating more moisture than it’s absorbing. Too much sun can make parsley droop, which is typically a direct result of parched soil. Add one deep watering session per week to eliminate this problem. However, it is still wise to offer your parsley some shade if it is planted in full sun and temperatures are high.
- Parsley grown in full sun should receive extra water per week.
- Yellow leaves indicate sun-scorched parsley.
- Parsley roots may fail to thrive if exposed to too much sun.
Parsley that turns yellow is almost always shade-deprived. Depending on the temperature, it may only take a day or two in extreme heat for yellow spots to occur. This is because parsley roots often fail to thrive if temperatures are consistently hot or if the plant is left in the bright sun too long.
How Much Sun Does Parsley Require?
Parsley thrives in a variety of conditions, and grows well in moderately dry to moist soil. Parsley is an adaptable herb, and although it does require some full sun, it can thrive in shade and partial sunlight if other conditions are right.
- Don’t allow your parsley to be deprived of light entirely.
- Weathering, discoloration, or abnormally long stems with small leaves are signs of sun deprivation.
- Excess sun exposure can kill parsley.
- When you move your parsley from hot sun to shade, it usually bounces back quickly.
If the parsley is withering, lift it with care from the ground or container and examine the roots. If the roots are still white, place the plant in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours daily to revive it. If it is turning yellow in the sun, provide shade during the hottest part of the day to revive your parsley.
