Celery, Apium graveolens, is one species with several faces: stalk celery, leaf celery and celeriac, a swollen root. Its seed is ajmod, used as a spice and in traditional medicine in India. Celery is one of the major food allergens listed in Europe. People who handle it in sunlight can get skin burns from its psoralens.
- Botanical name
- Apium graveolens L.
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Tamil
- Celery
- Hindi
- Celery
- Parts used
- Leaf, Leaf stalk, Root (celeriac)
- Habit
- Celery; stalk, leaf and celeriac are one species
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Celery
It is a biennial grown as an annual, with thick, grooved leaf stalks and divided, toothed leaves.
Small white flowers grow in umbrella-shaped clusters in the second year.
The seeds are tiny, brown and ribbed, with a strong celery smell.
Parsley has finer or curlier leaves and thinner stalks, and coriander has a different, sharper scent.
Leaf celery, common in Asian markets, has thin stalks and lots of leaves and is used like a herb.
Traditional use of Celery
Indian spice
Celery seed, ajmod, is used in spice mixes, pickles and Ayurvedic preparations.
Indian practice
European kitchen
Celery is a base of soups and stocks, with onion and carrot, and celeriac is mashed and roasted.
European food practice
Asian kitchen
Chinese celery, a thin-stalked leaf celery, is used in stir-fries and soups across East and Southeast Asia.
East Asian food practice
Modern notes on Celery
Celery juice is marketed with health claims that are not supported by trials.
Furanocoumarins (psoralens) in celery can cause blistering skin reactions in field workers exposed to sunlight.
Celery safety
People with celery allergy should check labels, as it is in many soups, sauces and spice mixes.
Ecology and sourcing
Its wild form grows in damp, salty places around the Mediterranean and western Asia.
In India it is grown as a winter crop and in the hills.
It needs plenty of water to form tender stalks.
Related plants
Also in Apiaceae
Questions about Celery
What is ajmod?
Celery seed, used as a spice.
Is celeriac the same plant?
Yes, a root-forming variety.
Can celery cause allergy?
Yes, it is a common food allergen.
How do I store Celery?
Wrapped and refrigerated, or with the stalks standing in a little water.
Sources
- Apium graveolens L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q28298 (Apium graveolens)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.