Types of Celery

Celery (Apium graveolens) is one of nature’s most rewarding gifts. From its leaves and stalks up to its bulb and tuberous roots, the celery plant can be added to countless dishes, boosting unique aroma and flavor. It belongs to the same Apiaceae family of carrots, cumin, fennel, cilantro, and parsley.

Chopped celery stalks put extra crunch in fresh salads, while the leaves and stalks give off mildly herby flavor in soups, stews, and stir-fries. Like carrots, celery works well as stuffing in chicken or turkey too. Other than its culinary importance, celery is also beneficial to your health.

Phytochemicals found in celery, such as phenolic acid, flavonoids, and antioxidant vitamin C fight oxidative stress that contributes to cardiovascular health risks. Research also suggests that celery leaves have anti-inflammatory benefits due to its phytonutrients.

All these possible health advantages from celery make them valuable produce. Growing your own celery at home ensures they’re free from inorganic chemicals.

Common Celery Types

To learn more about this aromatic vegetable, let’s take a look at the differences between heirloom and hybrid varieties and their common examples. 

Heirloom and Hybrid Celeries

Celery heirloom varieties, which are free of cross-breeding for a significant period of 40 to 50 years, hold true to their seeds. Ethnic, family, or religious units in a certain geographic region practice seed saving of heirloom varieties. The seeds carry similar traits of the parent plant. Golden Boy, Golden Self Blanching, Nan Ling Cutting, and Tendercrisp are common examples of such heirloom varieties. However, a significant drawback of heirloom varieties is their disease and pest vulnerability. Celery plants often fall victim to diseases like blackheart, celery mosaic, Fusarium wilt and leaf blights, and pests such as aphids, cutworms, and white flies.

Innovative developments in agriculture led to the creation of hybrid plant varieties. Through deliberate and manual crossbreeding of two varieties, hybrid celeries can alleviate disease and pest issues, and improve flavor or yield. Beneficial traits from the two varieties are imbued in the resulting hybrid without forming a permanent seed line.

Due to these enhancements, hybrid varieties are favored for large scale celery production.

Celeriac, Leaf, and Pascal Celeries

Celery can be classified into three common cultivars — the celeriac type (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum), the leaf type (Apium graveolens var. secalinum), and the Pascal or stalk type (Apium graveolens var. dulce).

Celeriac, also known as celery root, knob celery, and turnip-rooted celery, grows a bulbous, edible hypocotyl and shoots among its roots. It is considered by many as a root vegetable and cultivated often in North Africa, North America, Mediterranean, Siberia, and Southwest Asia.

The leaf celery type or Chinese celery is characterized by its thin and aromatic stalks. This type is often used in East Asian cuisine due to its flavorful stalks and leaves.

In the United States, the stalk type Pascal is common, as it can resist extended periods of cool temperatures. The stalk celery type tends to be longer and thicker than other celery types.

Other Popular Celery Groupings

Get to know more celery varieties based on their unique characteristics.

Types of Celery Stalk Colors

Green, red, and yellow colors are the most common in celery varieties. 

Celery Stalk Colors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Green Celeries	Hadrian (Territorial Seed Company) Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee)  Tendercrisp (True Leaf Market)
Red/Purple Celeries	Chinese Pink (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) Giant Red (Rare Seeds) Red Stalk (True Leaf Market)
White/Yellow Celeries	Chinese White (Rare Seeds) Golden Boy (True Leaf Market) Yellow Stem (True Leaf Market)

Types of Celery Flavors

The rich flavor of celery may not be for all, but it will add complexity to your dishes. 

Celery Flavors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Earthy/Herby Celeries	Kintsai or Nan Ling Cutting (True Leaf Market) Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee)
Sweet/Nutty Celeries	Brilliant (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee) Giant Golden Pascal (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee)

Types of Celery Textures

Some celery varieties have more crunch in them than others.

Celery Textures	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Firm/Hardy Celeries	Giant Golden Pascal (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee)
Soft/Tender Celeries	Chinese Pink (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) Chinese White (Rare Seeds) Kintsai or Nan Ling Cutting (True Leaf Market)

Types of Celery Lifecycles

Generally, celery is a biennial plant, but some home gardeners plant them as annuals.

Celery Lifecycles	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Annual Celeries	Golden Self Blanching (True Leaf Market) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee) Tendercrisp (True Leaf Market)
Biennial Celeries	Amsterdam (Rare Seeds) Kintsai or Nan Ling Cutting (True Leaf Market) Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee)

Types of Geographic Origins

Celery in our supermarkets today is believed to have originated from a wild variety of celery in the Mediterranean. Ancient civilizations in China, Egypt, and Rome used the plant as herbal medicine. 

Celery Geographic Origins	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
European/Mediterranean Celeries	D’elne (Rare Seeds) Giant Prague (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee)
North and South American Celeries	Golden Boy (True Leaf Market) Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) Tendercrisp (True Leaf Market)
Asian Celeries	Chinese Pink (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) Chinese White (Rare Seeds)

Types of Culinary Uses

The crunchy stalks and dark green leaves of celery have great flavor suitable for countless dishes. You can cook them with other food ingredients or prepare them for fresh eating. With creativity, celery’s culinary use can be endless.

Culinary Uses	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Celeries for Salads	Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee) Tendercrisp (True Leaf Market)
Celeries for Sautéing/Stir-fry	Chinese Pink (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) Chinese White (Rare Seeds) Kintsai or Nan Ling Cutting (True Leaf Market)
Celeries for Soups/Stocks	Giant Prague (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Golden Self Blanching (True Leaf Market) Light Green (True Leaf Market)

Types of Disease Resistance

Some hybrid celery varieties are made to resist certain diseases, such as bacterial or fungal leaf spots, late blight, pink rot, and viral mosaics.

Disease Resistance	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Disease Resistant Celeries	Light Green (True Leaf Market) Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee)
Susceptible Celeries	Golden Self Blanching (True Leaf Market) Kintsai or Nan Ling Cutting (True Leaf Market) Tendercrisp (True Leaf Market)

Types of Preferred Growing Conditions

Some celery varieties are compact plants that can be grown in containers. If you’re planning to massively grow and harvest fresh celery, consider some varieties suitable for field planting. Basil, cilantro, and dill are some of the best companion plants when growing celery in your vegetable garden.

Preferred Growing Conditions	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Greenhouse Celeries	Giant Golden Pascal (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Golden Self Blanching (True Leaf Market) Tall Utah 52-70 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee)
Field Celeries	Hadrian (Territorial Seed Company) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee) Tendercrisp (True Leaf Market)
Container Celeries	Amsterdam (Rare Seeds) Light Green (True Leaf Market) Tango (Territorial Seed Company, Burpee)

Popular Varieties of Celeriac Celeries

As discussed earlier, the celeriac varieties grow a bulbous hypocotyl at the base of the plant. It is commonly grown for its root crop rather than for its leaves or stems. The hypocotyl can be used as gratin. When storing, it should be submerged in a slightly acidic water to avoid discoloration. 

Variety	Description	Mature Height	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Brilliant	The heirloom Brilliant celeriac produces a root crop good for at least three months of proper storage.	19 to 23 inches	105 to 115 days	Territorial Seed Company, Burpee
Giant Prague	Another long-storing crop, the Giant Prague or Large Smooth Prague celeriac can be used in salads, soups, and stocks. In 1871, this heirloom celery was first introduced to home gardeners.	8 to 12 inches	110 to 120 days	True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds

Popular Varieties of Chinese or Leaf Celeries

Many people prefer the leaves of Chinese celery on soups and stews due to their strong herby flavor. It is used in most Chinese and European cuisines. Other names for this type include smallage celery and cutting celery. In the United States, Chinese celery is more common in Asian grocery stores or local farmers markets.  

Variety	Description	Mature Height	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Amsterdam	Native to the Netherlands, the Amsterdam celery is traditionally used for soups and stews with a flavor similar to Italian parsley. Although its dark green stalks are fibrous, they are thinner than Pascal varieties.	10 to 12 inches	80 to 115 days	Rare Seeds
Chinese Pink	This open-pollinated variety has pink to purple stalks with dark green leaves. The Chinese Pink is popular in Northern China due to its frost resistance and simple growing maintenance.	8 to 10 inches	80 to 90 days	Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds
Chinese White	The Chinese White celery is more heat resistant compared to other varieties. It is easy to grow, sprouting in 15 to 20 days.	15 to 23 inches	80 to 90 days	Rare Seeds
Light Green	The Light Green variety does not have the typical ribbed stalks found in celery. Instead, it produces thin green stalks most suitable for container growing.	18 to 24 inches	50 to 60 days	True Leaf Market
Kintsai or Nan Ling Cutting	This variety has a sweeter flavor compared to other Chinese varieties. They also produce small flowers and thrive in full sun and damp soil.	12 to 18 inches	60 to 90 days	True Leaf Market

Popular Varieties of Pascal or Stalk Celeries

Due to their resistance to cold temperatures, the Pascal or stalk celeries are prevalent in American farms and supermarkets. They can grow in zones 2 thru 10 based on the United States Depart of Agriculture’s (USDA) hardiness zone map.

Variety	Description	Mature Height	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Giant Red	With purplish to green stalks, the Giant Red has wide ribbed stalks suitable for making “Ants on a Log.” This variety has the classic celery flavor.	16 to 24 inches	100 to 140 days	Rare Seeds
Golden Boy	This string-free Pascal celery has a unique golden yellow color and tender texture.	18 to 20 inches	85 to 90 days	True Leaf Market
Golden Self Blanching	When planting the Golden Self Blanching celery, there’s no need to blanch or trench the plant. It produces thick and crispy string-free stalks, which can be used as an ingredient for stuffing.	24 to 30 inches	85 to 105 days	True Leaf Market
Tall Utah 52-70	The Tall Utah 52-70 can grow as long as a foot long with resistance to cold and disease. Consume the stalks as celery sticks for a crunchy snack.	12 to 24 inches	100 to 110 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee
Tango	The sweet-flavored Tango celery offers a reliable harvest of tender and thick stalks.	18 to 20 inches	85 to 90 days	Territorial Seed Company, Burpee

Other Varieties of Celery

Another way to enjoy celery in your meals is by harvesting them early as microgreens. This way, you can benefit from their nutrition without having to wait long. Learn more about the best celery varieties for early harvest below.

Popular Varieties of Baby and Microgreen Celeries 

A study from the Biological Trace Element Research revealed that microgreen celery has higher mineral content — such as calcium, nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur — compared to their mature counterparts.

Variety	Description	Texture	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Celery Microgreens	This heirloom seed variety can add freshness to your meals with bright and subtle hints of a classic celery flavor.	Soft	21 to 28 days	True Leaf Market
Utah 52-70 Microgreens	For a more intense celery flavor in your microgreens, opt for the Utah 52-70 variety. It requires no soaking.	Soft	21 to 28 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Burpee

FAQ About Types of Celery