Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Upright Hedge Parsley bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Upright Hedge Parsley, Japanese Hedge Parsley, Erect Hedgeparsley (Torilis japonica).
More about upright hedge parsley
About Upright Hedge Parsley
Torilis japonica · also called Upright Hedge Parsley, Japanese Hedge Parsley · flowering
Torilis japonica is a slender annual or biennial in the carrot family (Apiaceae), native to Europe, Asia and naturalised widely in North America, typically growing in hedgerows, woodland margins and shaded roadsides. It thrives in partial shade with moist, well-drained soil and is grown primarily for its ferny foliage and delicate white umbel flowers that attract beneficial insects. The most important care fact is that it self-seeds prolifically and can become weedy; deadhead promptly after flowering to prevent unwanted spread. Torilis japonica is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA; it is considered non-toxic.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Invasive self-seeding: Plants shed abundant hooked seeds that cling to fur and clothing and germinate freely; deadhead as flowers fade and remove seedlings promptly to prevent naturalisation in borders or wild areas.
The reasons upright hedge parsley isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming upright hedge parsley traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding upright hedge parsley a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get upright hedge parsley to flower
- Maximise sun. Give upright hedge parsley the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for upright hedge parsley and get the feeding right with the upright hedge parsley fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Upright Hedge Parsley flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full upright hedge parsley care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Upright Hedge Parsley blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my upright hedge parsley flower?
Upright Hedge Parsley blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make upright hedge parsley bloom?
Give upright hedge parsley the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does upright hedge parsley normally bloom?
Upright Hedge Parsley flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with upright hedge parsley after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping upright hedge parsley flowering?
Feeding upright hedge parsley a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Upright Hedge Parsley care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Upright Hedge Parsley light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Upright Hedge Parsley fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library