Ancient legends linked parsley with death, for ancient Greeks crowned victors of funeral games with wreaths of this herb, and the poisonous, well-named Fool's Parsley (Aethusa cynapium), resembles the culinary type. The ornamental dark green leaves have a fresh, concentrated flavor, three times more vitamin C than oranges, and twice as much iron as spinach. Parsley attracts beneficial insects to your garden and hosts caterpillars of black swallowtail butterflies. .