How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Culantro

If you love Caribbean cuisine, you’ve probably tried culantro. This fragrant and nutrient-dense herb brings out the flavors in many dishes, such as recaíto from Puerto Rico. In this article, gardening expert Matt Dursum shows you how to plant, grow, and care for culantro.

Low-growing Culantro plant with sharply toothed green leaves and tiny spiked flowers atop tall stalks.

Contents

Culantro is a staple ingredient in many tropical cuisines. It adds a strong herbal flavor that crosses cilantro and parsley, with a touch of citrus zest. Unlike cilantro, you can cook it stews or eat it fresh as a garnish or in sauces. 

It’s often called ‘Mexican coriander’ and is a common herb in many Mexican dishes such as pozole. It’s also popular in many regions of India and South America. 

Owing to its worldwide popularity as a staple green, culantro is easy to grow and propagate. Grow it as an annual in cold climates for a touch of the tropics. In warm regions, it will thrive as a biennial.

If you want a flavorful and easy-to-grow alternative to cilantro, try planting this tropical herb this season. If you’re like me, you’ll plant, grow, and care for culantro and enjoy its unique flavors every growing season. 

Culantro Overview

Dense rosette of long, glossy green leaves with serrated edges growing close to the ground.
Plant Type Biennial
Family  Apiaceae
Genus Eryngium
Species Eryngium foetidum
Native Area North and Central America
Exposure Full sun to partial shade
Height 10-24”
Watering Requirements moderate to high
Pests & Diseases Root-knot nematodes, aphids
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Fertile, well-drained soil, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
Hardiness Zone 7-11

What Is It?

Cluster of elongated, dark green leaves with jagged margins and a leathery texture grow in a garden bed.
It’s known for its savory leaves in various global dishes.

Culantro is a tender herb that’s popular around the world for its savory leaves and aromatics. It’s used in stews or to flavor sauces and soups. In the Caribbean, its steeped leaves are a popular remedy for colds, fever, and other serious diseases such as malaria and the flu. 

Characteristics

Close-up of star-shaped flowers of rich green color growing on upright stems against a background of dense clusters of narrow, serrated green leaves.
Enjoy its cool-season growth and vibrant green flower pods.

This tropical herb has long serrated leaves with a crunchy texture. It has a flavor similar to a cross between cilantro, parsley, and a hint of green peppercorns. It’s a member of the Apiaceae family of plants, which includes cilantro, anise, and dill

The plant is a biennial, meaning you’ll get two annual growing cycles. It grows from a single stem, with leaves forming a spiral along the base. It produces several small flower pods that are green to greenish blue and cone-shaped. 

It’s easy to maintain and tolerates cool fall temperatures and a wide range of soil types. You’ll get it to thrive in humid regions with long summers, such as Florida and South Carolina. It grows great in raised beds next to other herbs and attracts helpful insects to your garden. 

Native Area

A man's hand touches glossy, elongated green leaves with sharply serrated edges, arranged in a radial pattern on a garden bed.
Hardy in warmer zones, it can handle cool temperatures.

Culantro originates in tropical North and Central America and the Caribbean. It grows abundantly in tropical forests and wetlands. It grows naturally in elevations up to 5,000 feet. 

Throughout the 20th century, it’s become a popular crop in many tropical regions of the world. In South and Southeast Asia, it’s common in markets and used in a huge variety of regional dishes. 

As a tropical herb, it’s hardy in zones 7 through 11. It can’t tolerate frosts but can handle some cool weather as long as the temperature stays above 50°F (10°C). 

Planting

Grow this tender herb in containers, grow beds, or as seeds directly sown into the ground. It prefers moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. As long as it gets enough warmth and moderate light, you should have big and flavorful harvests within a few months of planting. 

Transplanting

Rows of potted plants form dense, bushy rosettes of elongated, jagged leaves of bright green color.
It struggles to germinate in soils colder than 80° F, so wait for warmth.

Culantro grows best from seed. However, you may find starters sold in some nurseries. It grows well planted next to other herbs in the Apiaceae family. 

In warm climates, sow the seeds directly into the ground once the temperature is warm. The plant will have trouble germinating in temperatures cooler than 80°F (27°C). 

In cooler regions, start your seeds indoors with a heat mat in spring, about eight weeks before the last frost date. This is usually from January to February in southern regions and March to April in the north. 

Growing From Seed

Cluster of dry, brown, spiky seed pods with sharp edges gathered in a small clay pot.
Start seeds indoors for healthy growth and strong roots.

Although you can find starters, it’s easiest to grow this delicious herb from seed. Once you have your seeds, all you need is warm weather, good soil, and plenty of moisture. 

Sow the tiny seeds directly on moist seed starting mix. Cover them very lightly with soil. Keep the soil temperature between 70 and 80°F (21-27°C) and slightly moist for one to two weeks until the seeds start to germinate. 

If you start seeds indoors, plant them in medium-sized starting trays. It takes them between 14 and 28 days to germinate. Once you see the first leaves appear, thin the seedlings out until you have one or two healthy seedlings per tray. 

Move the seeds outdoors several weeks after the last frost. Transplant them in rich, well-drained soil with moderate shade. Space the plants out by 6” or more to give them enough airflow between the leaves and room to grow. 

How to Grow

Culantro is excitingly easy to grow! It thrives in warm areas with moist but not waterlogged soil. It grows quickly, so even in temperate northern zones, you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest by the end of summer. 

This flavorful herb grows incredibly well in garden beds or containers. Try growing it in a greenhouse or a hydroponic growing system. 

Light

Low-growing plants with spiny, lance-shaped leaves radiating outward in star-like formations in a sunny garden.
Plants thrive with a little shade and afternoon relief.

In its native range, it grows abundantly under tall trees and grasses. Although it will handle full sun, it grows best with a little shade

I had the most success growing it in areas of my garden with afternoon shade. Plants grown under partial shade can produce denser and more vivid foliage. 

Water

Close-up of a green leaf tip with serrated edges glistening with water droplets.
Proper drainage and watering prevent common gardening mistakes.

This tropical biennial needs consistent watering spaced out to prevent waterlogging. Make sure the upper layer of the soil is dry before watering. The biggest mistake most gardeners make is over and underwatering. 

To prevent root rot, make sure your container has adequate drainage holes. If you sow your seeds directly on the soil, make sure it has good drainage. A light slope works well at preventing soggy soil. 

Soil

Compact cluster of green leaves with serrated edges and a slight sheen grow on a bed with dark brown soil.
Use rich potting soil mixed with sand for drainage.

Culantro prefers well-drained soil with a pH between 6 to 8. Try a combination of rich potting soil full of organic material. Add course materials such as perlite or sand to improve its drainage. 

Temperature and Humidity

Long, narrow green leaves with finely serrated edges forming a dense ground-hugging rosette covered with dew drops.
It thrives in warm, humid conditions and partial afternoon shade.

As a tender, tropical perennial, it won’t tolerate cold temperatures. During germination, make sure the temperature doesn’t fall below 50°F (10°C) at night. Daytime temperatures should be at or above 80°F (27°C). 

The plant prefers growing in humid environments. It thrives in greenhouses or in regions with high summer humidity, such as the southeast US. In places like Southern California and Arizona, try growing it near a small body of water like a pond with shade from the afternoon sun. 

Fertilizing

In a large clay flowerpot grow rosettes of bright green, spiny-edged leaves with a smooth surface arranged in overlapping layers.
Feed with care to avoid fertilizer burn on leaves.

Culantro is a heavy feeder and thrives with a balanced fertilizer. It responds well to organic compost. Try feeding your plant with vermicompost created in a worm compost bag

When you feed your plant, make sure to water it thoroughly after feeding. Avoid adding fertilizer directly to the plant. This will cause a fertilizer burn on the leaves and ruin your harvest. 

As with any herb, fruit, or vegetable, watch for signs of overfeeding. These include yellowing leaves, browning leaves, and wilting. 

Maintenance

A gardener with a wicker basket full of freshly picked green oblong leaves with a smooth surface and jagged edges.
Harvest leaves when they reach 6 to 12 inches.

There’s very little work that goes into maintaining this tropical herb. Make sure to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged

Once the leaves are between 6 to 12 inches long, it’s time to harvest them. Take individual leaves as you need or harvest the entire bunch. 

If you let the plant go to seed, the leaves will lose their tenderness and become more bitter. Unlike cilantro and dill, culantro seeds have no culinary value. 

Propagation

It’s incredibly easy to start this herb by seed, although you can propagate it from starters. Because it’s not commonly grown in the US, you may have trouble finding starters at your local nursery. 

Cuttings

Close-up of a blue bowl filled with water, holding rooted cuttings with slender, young green leaves.
Grow from cuttings by placing them in water and sunlight.

Although it’s better to grow the plant from seed, you can grow the herb from cuttings. Find a healthy mature plant and clip a leaf at the node connecting it to the stem. 

Use a sterilized knife or pruners to make an angled cut on the base. Place the end of the cutting in a glass of water. Place the cup or jar near a window with bright, indirect light. 

In about one or two weeks, you should see new roots starting to grow. Once you see a root system developing, transplant the cutting in moist, well-draining soil, rich in organic material or compost. 

Harvesting and Storage

Close-up of freshly picked herbs with narrow, elongated green leaves featuring sharp-toothed edges, placed next to a wooden kitchen board with chopped leaves.
Use tender young leaves in fresh dishes or dry them.

Once the leaves are between 6 to 20 inches long, you can harvest them. The younger the leaves are the more tender. Young leaves are great in salads, chutneys, and salsas. Mature leaves are full of bright, peppery flavor and work well in stews and soups. 

Harvest the leaves near the node at the base of the plant. Once you have your harvest, you can store the leaves in the freezer or eat them fresh

Try drying the leaves to make a dry herb seasoning. This is a popular condiment for soups such as Mexican pozole and menudo. You can also use the herb as an earthier substitute for cilantro. It’s more aromatic and flavorful so try using less to season your food. 

Common Problems

Culantro is sensitive to freezing temperatures. Once the plant is mature, it can handle cool weather and even drops below 40°F (4°C) at night. However, if you live in an area with frosts, it’s best to grow this herb as an annual. 

Besides being intolerant of the cold, the plant has few diseases and pests. As long as the plant has plenty of space and airflow, pests shouldn’t be an issue. 

Pests

Close-up of tiny insects with oval, soft green bodies on the underside of a green leaf.
Neem oil works wonders if aphids become a problem.

In some cases, you may see root-knot nematodes infecting the plant. These tiny roundworms feed on the plant tissues below the soil. Look for telltale signs, including yellowing leaves and stunted growth. 

Some gardeners see aphids but they’re generally not an issue. The plant has a great natural defense against them. If you do have an infestation, try treating your plants with a non-toxic insecticide such as an organic neem oil spray. 

One of the best things about culantro is it attracts beneficial insects such as ladybeetles and lacewings. These beneficial insects keep other pests in control. 

Diseases

Close-up of diseased yellowed lance-shaped, serrated leaves with brown spots.
Prevent root rot by keeping the soil moist, not soggy.

Like other herbs, the most common disease is root rot. This happens when moisture buildup in the soil creates an environment suitable for molds, fungi, and oomycetes to thrive. Although some are harmless, a few species can infect the roots and kill your plant. 

Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Plant your herb in well-drained soil and refrain from overwatering it. 

Bacterial leaf spots (Xanthomonas sp) can also appear on rare occasions. If you see these tiny dark patches on the leaves, remove them immediately. Disinfect your hands, gloves, and any objects you contacted them with. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is culantro the same as cilantro?

No. Although they’re from the same family of plants, they are from a different genus. They share some similarities in flavor. Culantro has a slightly more peppery and earthy flavor.

Is culantro good for you?

Yes! Culantro is super healthy. It’s full of nutrients such as calcium and iron. The leaves are high in vitamins A, B, and C. In some cultures, the leaves make a common cold remedy when they’re brewed as tea.

Can I grow culantro in cold climates?

Yes! Although culantro is biennial in warm climate zones, you can get it to flourish in your cold climate garden. In areas such as the Midwest where summers get nice and hot, this herb will grow remarkably well. In regions such as the Olympic Peninsula and coastal Alaska, temperatures will not be warm enough during the growing season.

Is recao the same as culantro?

Yes, recao is the name given to the plant in many Caribbean locations. Culantro is the common name in Mexico and much of Latin America.

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