How to Grow Sea Celery in Australia
A year-round herb crop for the home garden
Growing Sea Celery at home is well within reach for most Australian gardeners, and this guide walks you through every step. It is rated beginner to grow. Free celery-flavoured herb once established. Grows wild on most Australian coastlines.
This guide covers when to plant Sea Celery in your region, the position and soil it likes, how to sow and space it, day-to-day care, the pests and diseases to watch, and how to harvest and store your crop.
When to Plant in Your Region
Sea Celery is a year-round crop, fully frost-hardy. In subtropical South-East Queensland it is sown in March, April, May, June, July, August and September. Timing shifts with your climate, so choose your region below for a local calendar.
Varieties to Try
Sea Celery
Standard wild form. Prostrate groundcover with glossy divided leaves. Strong celery flavour.
Try: Nindethana, Native Seeds, specialist bush food nurseries
Position and Soil
Give Sea Celery full sun (at least 6 hours a day). It does best in free-draining soil with a pH around 6 to 8. Dig through plenty of compost before planting, and mulch to hold moisture and keep weeds down. It grows happily in a pot of 20cm+, which makes it a fine choice for balconies and courtyards.
Sowing and Spacing
Sow seed on the surface, barely covered. Thin or space plants to about 30 cm apart. Seedlings usually appear in around 21 days, fastest when the soil is between 12 and 22 degrees.
Apium prostratum. Native Australian coastal herb with intense celery-parsley flavour. Salt-tolerant groundcover found on beaches and estuaries. Easy to grow in sandy, well-drained soil. More flavourful than standard celery. Works in pots, rockeries and coastal gardens.
Care
Water consistently, roughly 3 L per plant every 4 days in warm weather, less in cool or wet spells. Feed every few weeks through the growing season with a balanced organic fertiliser, and keep mulch topped up.
Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for Few. The main diseases to watch are Few. Good spacing, watering at the base rather than over the leaves, and crop rotation prevent most problems. See our Pest and Disease Guide to identify and fix any issue.
Harvesting and Storage
Sea Celery is typically ready to harvest in around 90 days (about 3 months). Fridge in a damp cloth for 1 week. Dry leaves store for months.
In the Kitchen
In the kitchen, sea celery is good used fresh as a celery-parsley substitute, added to seafood dishes, chopped into salads and dressings and dried as a native seasoning. Nutritionally: rich in vitamin C and minerals and salt-tolerant native plant.
Companion Planting
Sea Celery grows well alongside Pigface and Samphire. Our Companion Planting Guide has the full pairings.
Track Your Sea Celery Growing
Add sea celery to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for planting, care and harvest, tuned to your region.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Sea Celery in Australia?
Sea Celery is a year-round crop. In subtropical regions like South-East Queensland it is sown in March, April, May, June, July, August and September. Timing changes with your climate, so use the calendar above for your region.
How long does Sea Celery take to grow?
Sea Celery is generally ready to harvest in around 90 days (about 3 months).
Can I grow Sea Celery in a pot?
Yes. Sea Celery grows well in a container of 20cm+ with free-draining mix and regular watering.
How much sun does Sea Celery need?
Give it full sun (at least 6 hours a day) for the healthiest growth and best harvest.
See also: Sea Celery in the Plant Library
