Ontario Wildflowers website

Japanese Hedge Parsley
Torilis japonica

Other common names: Erect Hedge Parsley, Upright Hedge Parsley

Other scientific names: Caucalis anthriscus, Caucalis japonica, Torilis anthriscus

Family: Parsley Family (Apiaceae)

Similar species:
  •   Spreading Hedge Parsley (Torilis arvensis) - lacks the pointed bracts at the base of each umbel.

  •   Bulb-bearing Water Hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera) - Grows in wet areas; leaves are fine and very narrow.

  •   Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) - Smells like carrot; flowers are in one large usually flat-topped dense umbel.
  •   Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) - leaves are not as delicate; flower umbel denser.

Flowers: Summer;  White;  5 parts (petals);  Two or more pointed bracts at the base of each umbel.

Leaves: Alternate, Compound, Toothed;  Pinnately divided, 2 to 5" long; sometimes slightly downy.

Height: Up to 1 m (3 ft)

Stem: Ridged.

Fruit/Seeds: Covered with velcro-like hairs which stick to clothing and fur, thus dispersing the seed.

Habitat: Fields and Open Areas

Lifespan: Annual.  

Native/Non-native: Non-native

Status: Very invasive alien; common.

Notes: If you spot this plant just starting to grow in an area, remove it at once! If left to itself it may take over the area entirely.

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: japonica: of Japan, Japanese


Photographs: 74 photographs available, of which 10 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

The overall plant.

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

The flower umbel. This is fairly typical of plants belonging to the Parsley Family.

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Top view of the flower umbel of Japanese Hedge Parsley.

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Closeup view of one of the flower clusters from the above photo.

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Leaf.

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Ridged main stalk.

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Japanese Hedge Parsley rapidly takes over an area. This is a very invasive non-native plant.

Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

Another example of how it takes over.


Range map for Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)