Culantro Plant Care

Culantro (Eryngium foetidum) belongs to the Apiaceae family within the Eryngium genus. Culantro is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Culantro is also known as Sawtooth Coriander, Eryngium, Mexican Coriander.

Culantro displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Culantro produces small, cone-shaped blue or white flowers surrounded by spiky bracts.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Eryngium foetidum requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.

Culantro thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Eryngium foetidum grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Culantro prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Culantro to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Culantro every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.

Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.

Culantro can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alligator weed plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Culantro is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, powdery mildew. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Culantro grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Culantro is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.