Celery is a herbaceous biennial - though many think of it as a vegetable. It grows quickly in an upright fashion with stiff, flat stalks with feathery, almost Italian Parsley like serrated bright green foliage. In order to get white, crispy stalks its best to pile humus around them or a cardboard collar will keep the light from it and keep them white. Celery has the most wonderful aroma, is great in salads and stews but delivers less energy than it takes to eat it.