What Is the Difference Between Parsley and Cilantro? A Quick Guide to Telling Them Apart

I. Stem Difference

Cilantro grows about 20 to 100 cm tall. Cilantro has cylindrical, upright stems with many branches; the stems are striped and usually very smooth. The styles are upright when young and curve outward when the fruit is ripe.

The parsley plant is about 30 cm tall, dark green, with cylindrical stems.

II. Leaf Difference

Cilantro leaves are broadly ovate or fan-shaped and semi-divided, 1 to 2 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm wide, with bluntly toothed or deeply lobed edges. They are aromatic.

Parsley leaves are pinnately compound, with serrated leaf edges, and are dark green.

III. Flower Difference

Cilantro has umbel inflorescences, terminal or opposite the leaves, with white flowers or flowers tinged with pale purple.

Parsley flowers are white or light green and small.

IV. Fruit Difference

Cilantro fruit is spherical, with primary ridges on the back and adjacent secondary ridges.

Parsley fruit is small, three-sided, with 5 raised ridges on the flat side, grayish brown or light brown, and aromatic.