Long Coriander/ Culantro (Eryngium foetidum) seeds
- Intensely aromatic culinary herb from Central America – perfect for tropical and Asian-inspired cuisine.
- Contents: Approx. 100 seeds
- Open-pollinated variety, seed tested regularly
€2.95
No longer available
Description
Tropical Culinary Classic for Kitchen and Medicinal Herb Gardens
Long coriander (Eryngium foetidum), also known as Mexican coriander, culantro or spiritweed, is a tropical culinary herb native to Central America. It is highly valued in Caribbean, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine as a powerfully aromatic herb – often used as a robust alternative to conventional leaf coriander. Just a single leaf is enough to enhance a dish with its distinctive spicy, slightly metallic and fresh flavour.
The toothed leaves of culantro are used fresh, for example in soups, sauces, marinades or stir-fried vegetables. It can occasionally be found as a fresh herb in Asian grocery shops. In traditional Central American folk medicine, it is also used to relieve digestive complaints and loss of appetite.
Culantro is not botanically related to true coriander (Coriandrum sativum), though both belong to the Apiaceae family. As a tropical plant, it thrives in warm, humid conditions and is best cultivated under protection – ideally on a windowsill, in a greenhouse or in a warm herb container on the balcony.
Plant profile
| Plant type | Herbaceous plant |
|---|---|
| Use | Edible plant, Herb/spice plant, Medicinal plant |
| Lifecycle | Annual or biennial |
| Species | Apiaceae |
| Seed propagation | konventionell |
| Region of origin | Brazil, Central America, Mexico, South America |
| Eventual height | 5-50 cm |
| Flower colour | Yellow |
| Flowering months | August, July, June, September |
| Main harvest | All year round |
| Winter hardiness zones | 6 (-23 bis -18 °C) |
Growing instructions
| Sowing depth | 0 cm |
|---|---|
| Germination temperature | 22-28°C |
| Germination time | 2-3 weeks |
| Climate | Tropical |
| Soil type | Deep, Free-draining, Sandy |
| Sunlight | Full sun, Shade |
| Planting distance | 20 cm |
Sowing and care
Sowing and Care of Eryngium foetidum
- Plant type: Annual to biennial culinary herb from tropical climates.
- Sowing: Can be sown indoors all year round; do not sow outdoors.
- Light-dependent germination: Scatter seeds on moist seed compost, press down lightly, do not cover.
- Germination: Requires constant warmth (22–25 °C); a heated propagator is recommended.
- Location: Warm, bright, and humid – best grown in pots indoors or in a greenhouse.
- Care: Keep evenly moist, do not allow to dry out, and feed occasionally.
With its bold aroma, tropical character and versatile culinary uses, culantro is a wonderful addition for lovers of Asian, Latin American or Caribbean cuisine.
Other names
Botanical name: Eryngium foetidum
German: Langer Koriander, Mexikanischer Koriander, Culantro, Stinkdistel, Sägeblatt-Koriander, Pak Chi Farang, Ngo gai,
English: Thorny Coriander, Cay Muoy Than
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