{"id":328,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=328"},"modified":"2025-08-03T21:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T21:24:11","slug":"water-celery","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/water-celery\/","title":{"rendered":"Water celery"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Oenanthe Javanica<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong>\u00a0Water dropwort, Water Parsley, Chinese Celery<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to Grow It<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Water celery\u00a0is a creeping perennial<\/b> that forms mats of fine stems and leaves up to 30\u201350cm tall<\/b>. Its bright green, feathery foliage makes it look like an ornamental herb, but don\u2019t be fooled \u2013 this is a useful food plant.<\/p>\r\n

Climate:<\/b> Loves temperate to subtropical climates<\/b>. In warm regions, it\u2019ll stay green year-round; in colder spots it will die back in frost but bounce back in spring.
Sun:<\/b> Handles full sun or partial shade<\/b> \u2013 in really hot weather a bit of shade keeps the leaves tender.
Water:<\/b> True to its name, water celery loves moisture<\/b>. It thrives in boggy soils, along pond edges, or in a bucket with a bit of water<\/b> in the bottom. It will still grow in drier conditions but the stems can get stringy and growth slows.
Best planting time:<\/b> Any time in warm climates; spring in cooler ones.
Propagation:<\/b> Dead easy. Just yank up a piece of the plant (roots and all) and plonk it into its new home \u2013 it\u2019ll settle in instantly if kept watered.<\/p>\r\n

Container growing?<\/b> Perfect for buckets, tubs, or Styrofoam boxes. For best results, drill drainage holes a few centimetres above the base so a shallow water reservoir remains. Keep an eye on the roots though \u2013 they\u2019ll fill a container fast.<\/p>\r\n

Garden tip:<\/b> It spreads rapidly if it\u2019s happy. This can be a bonus for a survival garden, but if you want to keep it contained, grow it in pots or harvest it hard and often.<\/p>\r\n

Herbal & Nutrient Value<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Water celery is seriously nutritious for something that grows like a weed<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Nutrients:<\/b> The leaves and stems are packed with vitamins A, B, and C<\/b>, plus iron, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium<\/b> \u2013 great for immunity, bones, and overall vitality.<\/li>\r\n
  • <\/b>The white roots<\/b> are edible too, and while not as nutrient-dense, they provide some carbohydrate and fibre<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n
  • Traditional uses:<\/b> In parts of Asia, water celery has been used as a detox herb and mild diuretic<\/b>, meaning it helps the body flush out excess fluid. It\u2019s also been used to support digestion and soothe inflammation.

    <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Traditional & Home Remedies<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    Water Celery Tea<\/strong> \u2013 Simmer handful of leaves for 10\u202fmin; used for kidney\/bladder support.
    Poultice for Swollen Joints<\/strong> \u2013 Crushed fresh leaves applied to bruises or swelling.
    Detox Broth<\/strong> \u2013 Boiled with carrots, onion, and garlic; drunk as a cleansing tonic.
    Herbal Bath Infusion<\/strong> \u2013 Leaves steeped in hot water; infusion added to bath for skin conditions.

    <\/p>\r\n

    Using It in the Kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    Water celery is one of those plants that can just slip into nearly any dish<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Leaves:<\/b> Tender, green, and slightly celery-flavoured. Great raw in salads, sandwiches, or garnishes<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n
    • Stems:<\/b> Crunchy and mild \u2013 chop finely for salads or leave in chunks for stir-fries. They hold their texture after cooking, which is a big plus.<\/li>\r\n
    • Roots:<\/b> The white roots can be chopped into soups, curries, or stews \u2013 think of them like a delicate, herbal vegetable.

      <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
      \"\"\r\n
      Water Celery straight from the garden & prepared for a stir fry

      <\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

      Harvest tip:<\/b> Pick the younger stems for tenderness \u2013 older stems can get fibrous (just like regular celery).<\/p>\r\n

      Storage tip:<\/b> Best eaten fresh from the garden. If you do need to store it, wrap in a damp cloth in the fridge for a few days.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Simple recipe ideas<\/b><\/p>\r\n

      – Garden Stir Fry:<\/b> Toss chopped stems and leaves into a hot wok with garlic and soy \u2013 instant green boost.
      – Crisp Herb Salad:<\/b> Mix water celery leaves with cucumber, mint, and lime juice for a cooling summer salad.
      – Brothy Noodle Soup:<\/b> Add stems and roots to a simple broth for texture and flavour.
      – Water Celery Pesto:<\/b> Blitz the leaves with garlic, nuts, and oil for an earthy, herby spread.
      – Omelette Filler:<\/b> Wilt a handful of chopped leaves into an omelette right before folding.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      • Aquatic helper:<\/b> Excellent for planting around ponds or wet spots<\/b> \u2013 it stabilises soil and stops erosion.<\/li>\r\n
      • Animal feed:<\/b> Ducks, chickens, and guinea pigs love it.<\/li>\r\n
      • Garden mulch:<\/b> Regular cuttings can be dropped around other plants for a nitrogen-rich mulch.

        <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        Why it\u2019s a survival plant:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

        Water celery is almost impossible to kill, spreads easily, grows in boggy or damp areas, and provides a constant supply of edible greens<\/b>. Even if your veggie garden is struggling with rain and bad weather, this plant will be there for you.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Water celery is one of those plants that grows like mad when\u00a0it finds a happy spot, it comes back year after year with hardly any help. Thriving in boggy spots, pots, or even the edge of a pond, it provides a constant supply of fresh greens that add crunch, flavour, and nutrition to your meals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[37,38,42,43,46],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-328","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-bog-water-plants","7":"product_cat-cooler-climate-plants","8":"product_cat-pot-and-container-plants","9":"product_cat-salad-leaves","10":"product_cat-stir-fry-plants","12":"first","13":"instock","14":"shipping-taxable","15":"product-type-simple"},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t