Parsnips

Planted at Mount Vernon

Fruit Garden & Nursery

Lower Garden

Pioneer Farm

Hardiness Zones

Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005

Parsnips are a large root vegetable which somewhat resemble white carrots and can be used in similar ways. Just like the wild parsnip, cultivated plants attract a range of pollinators and are host plants for several moths and butterflies, including swallowtails. Handling the plants should be done with care, as they can cause severe skin irritation- gloves and long sleeves are recommended while harvesting.

Latin Name

Pastinaca sativa

Family

Apiaceae

Type of Plant

Annuals

Vegetables

Seasons

Fall

Spring

Winter

Specifications

Max Height: 4'

Max Spread: 3'

Uses

Vegetable

Edible

Sunlight Exposure

Full Sun

Part Shade

Toxicity

Skin irritant

Colors

Native Range

Eurasia

History

Washington had his enslaved workers plant parsnips with carrots as a field crop to produce livestock feed, as well as in the gardens to use for human consumption.

Other Details

Grown by Washington

Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility. Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.

Bring Washington's Garden Home

Purchase our historic seeds, collected from plants grown at Mount Vernon and plant them in your own garden.

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