Coriandrum sativum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chinese Parsley
- Herb Cilantro
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-ee-AN-drum sah-TEE-vum
- Description
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Cilantro is a culinary herb that grows best in cool climates in spring and fall. It prefers medium moist well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. It bolts easily in hotter climates. It can become weedy outside of cultivation.
The leaves and stems are used to flavor various dishes. The mature seeds are called coriander and are used for flavoring.
This plant serves as a host to a variety of Swallow-tailed butterflies (Papilio machaon).
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Coriandrum
- Species:
- sativum
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Leaf, flowers, stems, seeds are edible. Seeds also used in potpourri and sachets.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Western Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval host plant to swallow-tailed butterflies
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Leaves, stems, flowers and seeds are edible. Leaves/flowers as an herb and seeds (Coriander) as a spice.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Cool Season Vegetable
- Edible
- Herb
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Coriander seeds ripen in round, yellow-brown pod
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White to pink flowers in clusters of 2 inches across.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Upper leaves are simple and fernlike and the lower leaves are broadly lobed, compound and resemble parsley
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Predatory Insects
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
