19 of the Greatest Forms of Cilantro
Also referred to as recent coriander, cilantro is a multipurpose fragrant herb grown for its foliage, flowers, seeds, and even roots.
This zesty, recent herb can brighten up many a meal – and once you develop your individual crop of this scrumptious plant, you possibly can select from a stunning number of differing kinds and cultivars!
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I’ve to confess, past selecting a slow-bolt cilantro selection, I had by no means bothered investigating totally different cultivars till lately.
As a confirmed card-carrying cilantro addict, I simply knew I wanted to develop loads of these brightly flavored inexperienced leaves yearly to remodel my meals from not dangerous to thoughts blowing.
I’m undecided why I had by no means regarded into totally different types of this herb although.
In any case, I’ve lengthy loved perusing the catalogs and selecting seeds for a large number of dry and shelling bean cultivars and summer season squash varieties yr after yr.
So when the considered investigating several types of cilantro dawned on me, I used to be thrilled with what I discovered – petite crops, large-leaved giants, heat-resistant champs, and chilly climate queens!
On this article we’re going to cowl 19 several types of cilantro (or crops with flavors similar to that of cilantro), that will help you choose the one among your desires!
Most of those choices are cultivars of the species Coriandrum sativum, however we’ll take into account a number of outliers as effectively.
For every possibility, we’ll contact on a number of factors of curiosity, discover culinary makes use of, and provide some recommendations on the place to search out seeds or stay crops to your personal backyard.
Prepared for a sneak peek? Right here’s the roundup:
19 of the Greatest Cilantro Varieties
Earlier than we get began, in case you want any tips about sowing, transplanting, tending to, harvesting, or preserving C. sativum, in addition to some attractive recommendations on tips on how to profit from it within the kitchen, make sure you learn our full information to rising cilantro.
And now, let’s get began with exploring these flavor-packed choices!
1. Superior Turbo II
Our first choice, ‘Superior Turbo II’ is a disease-resistant and heat-tolerant choose.
‘Superior Turbo II’ is a fast-growing number of C. sativum that has attractive, shiny inexperienced leaves – and it is usually sluggish to bolt.
In case you’ve ever skilled points with bacterial blight in your cilantro crop prior to now, do this selection – it’s proof against that bacterial pathogen.
‘Superior Turbo II’ can be prepared to reap by the bunch in 35 to 40 days.
Why not benefit from the prolific nature of this recent coriander selection to make a cilantro-centric sauce that makes use of a lot of recent foliage?
Certainly one of my private favorites is a scrumptious Yemeni delight – zhoug sauce. It’s made with recent coriander leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, cardamom, and some different spices.
‘Superior Turbo II’ is presently extra frequent to search out for buy amongst seed purveyors promoting to large-scale farmers reasonably than these targeted on yard gardeners.
Which means this sort isn’t the simplest to search out, however hopefully it’ll grow to be extra broadly obtainable to small-scale gardeners sooner or later.
2. Calypso
‘Calypso’ is a cultivar of C. sativum identified for its bushy crops which can be sluggish to bolt.
This high-yielding selection produces bunches of recent coriander foliage in 50 to 55 days, or 85 to 105 days for seeds.
Why not take a cue from its West-Indies-flavored identify and add the recent leaves of ‘Calypso’ to a Caribbean-style dish of beans and rice – maybe with a aspect of fried plantains?
‘Calypso’ cilantro is offered in packs of 100 seeds from the Park Seed Retailer by way of Amazon.
3. Caribe
‘Caribe’ is quite a lot of C. sativum that produces darkish inexperienced leaves on vigorous crops. Nice for greenhouse rising, it’s sluggish to bolt.
This recent coriander selection has thinner stems than ‘Santo’ – which we’ll uncover later on this article – and even higher bolt resistance.
‘Caribe’ produces a harvest of recent foliage in 55 days, and seeds in round 100 days.
Ever tried including recent coriander leaves to chutney? Why not begin now?
Get ‘Caribe’ cilantro in an assortment of package deal sizes starting from one-eighth of an oz as much as 20 kilos from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
4. Confetti
This subsequent recent coriander choice could not include occasion streamers and noisemakers, however it might offer you as a lot of a shock as an surprising celebration!
A cultivar of C. sativum, ‘Confetti’ has finely divided foliage that appears as wispy as carrot or dill greens.
These frilly, medium-green leaves require much less chopping and add a distinct texture to culinary creations.
‘Confetti’ crops are compact and fewer vulnerable to blemished foliage than different varieties as effectively.
Whereas not as excessive yielding as another C. sativum varieties, ‘Confetti’ has a milder, sweeter taste.
It’s greatest harvested for recent leaves when crops are younger, at 30 to 35 days after sowing, and produces seed in 80 to 100 days.
‘Confetti’ requires little prep in case you want minced herbs for a recipe, and its positive foliage can be good inside rice paper rolls or tacos, or combined into Asian-style salads.
You should buy ‘Confetti’ cilantro in packs of 150 seeds from Burpee.
5. Cruiser
Quite a lot of C. sativum, ‘Cruiser’ produces upright crops that bear darkish inexperienced foliage. Compact, they’re good for rising in containers.
Plus, this bolt-resistant recent coriander selection has glorious taste, even after going to flower.
‘Cruiser’ will produce a harvest of recent leaves in 50 to 55 days, and seeds in 120 to 150 days.
Cruising is at all times greatest once you hold cool, so why not high a recent and cooling cucumber salad with the leaves of this tasty selection?
You’ll discover ‘Cruiser’ cilantro in quite a lot of packet sizes from one-eighth of an oz as much as 20 kilos at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
6. Culantro
Our subsequent choice is Eryngium foetidum, a plant that goes by the frequent identify “culantro” – and no, that isn’t a typo!
Culantro is in the identical household as C. sativum, the Apiaceae or umbellifer household, and it’s additionally identified by many different frequent names – together with “broadleaf cilantro,” “lengthy leaf coriander,” “Mexican coriander,” “recao,” “ngo gai,” “Vietnamese culantro,” “chado beni,” and “spirit weed.”
Not like the frilly, parsley-like leaves of recent coriander, this plant has lengthy, lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges.
Whereas its taste is just like that of cilantro, culantro is much more potent, and when dried it retains its taste and shade higher than C. sativum.
Culantro does greatest when grown partly shade, with moist soil that has a pH of 6.1 to 7.8.
This species reaches 18 to 24 inches tall. It could be grown as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 11, and produces a harvest of recent leaves in 80 to 90 days.
These pungent, tasty leaves are a marvel when included within the in style base of so many unbelievable dishes: the sofrito.
You should buy culantro in packs of 300 seeds from the Seed Wants Retailer by way of Amazon. Packets of 400 and 1200 seeds are obtainable by way of Walmart.
7. Delfino
After our temporary detour to think about a distinct species, we’re now returning to cultivars of C. sativum with ‘Delfino.’
‘Delfino’ was awarded the excellence of being an All-America Alternatives winner in 2006.
Like ‘Confetti,’ this selection has finely divided, feathery foliage. However ‘Delfino’ is much more productive as compared.
‘Delfino’ produces bunches of foliage prepared to reap in 35 days, and units seed in 80 to 85 days.
With its wispy leaves, this cultivar requires little chopping so as to add it to a lime cilantro yogurt sauce, a wonderful dip for having fun with that bounty of recent backyard veggies you’ll little doubt be rising as effectively.
Get ‘Delfino’ cilantro in packs of 100 seeds from Hirt’s by way of Amazon.
8. Dwarf Lemon
C. sativum, ‘Dwarf Lemon’ is a singular, compact selection whose taste packs a punch.
This recent coriander cultivar has an intensely pronounced citrusy taste in comparison with different types of C. sativum and crops are reasonably petite, reaching simply 12 inches tall.
‘Dwarf Lemon’ is scrumptious when used to garnish any meal the place the brilliant tones of cilantro and citrus are welcome, corresponding to in a rice salad or combined into hummus.
Depend on 50 days of rising time for a harvest of recent foliage, and 110 days for seeds.
Search for ‘Dwarf Lemon’ cilantro seeds from native suppliers of heirloom seed cultivars.
9. Kanchanaburi
A Thai selection from the city of the identical identify, ‘Kanchanaburi’ is a prized cultivar of C. sativum for seed manufacturing.
This cultivar flowers early and produces massive seeds, making it glorious for rising your individual coriander spice.
Also referred to as ‘Kanchanaburu,’ this selection produces brief crops with fragrant roots which can be additionally an amazing selection for cooking.
The foliage of this sort can be utilized for garnishes whereas it lasts, however the true gem listed below are its flavorful seeds, which can be utilized to season so many various dishes, like home made curries or pickles. Seeds are prepared to reap in about 100 to 120 days.
As an early flowering kind, ‘Kanchanaburu’ can also be a wonderful option to develop as an insectary plant for pollinators and different helpful bugs.
You’ll discover this cilantro selection from sellers of uncommon, open-pollinated seeds.
10. Giant Leaf
‘Giant Leaf’ is quite a lot of C. sativum bred to maximise foliage manufacturing, producing as much as thrice as a lot as different cultivars.
Very sluggish to bolt, ‘Giant Leaf’ will produce bunches of leaves for harvest in 40 to 50 days, and flowers seem in 90 to 100 days.
In search of cooking concepts? Combine the outsized leaves of this prolific cultivar with homegrown parsley, oregano, jalapenos, and shallots to make your individual chimichurri sauce!
You will discover ‘Giant Leaf’ cilantro from sellers of uncommon and heirloom seeds.
11. Leisure
‘Leisure’ is a productive and slow-to-bolt number of C. sativum.
This coriander cultivar is prized for its uniformity and dependability. Its leaves are medium inexperienced in shade, feathery, and flat, and so they have a scrumptious, pungent taste.
‘Leisure’ is warmth tolerant, maturing in 50 to 55 days for leaves, and 90 to 105 days for seed.
Does this sound like the right garnish to have available for leisurely home-cooked meals like coconut Thai soup?
You should buy ‘Leisure’ cilantro in an assortment of package deal sizes from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
12. Moroccan
Whereas many types of C. sativum are touted for his or her capacity to withstand bolting in sizzling climate, ‘Moroccan’ is one other coriander cultivar that goes to flower early.
This makes it fascinating for individuals who are rising this herb to draw pollinators or for seed manufacturing.
‘Moroccan’ will produce a harvest of recent leaves in 45 days, and seeds in as little as 90 days.
Why not develop your individual coriander seeds, dry and grind them, and add the powdered coriander to a home made Moroccan couscous?
You’ll discover ‘Moroccan’ for buy in packs weighing 4 grams (or roughly 270 seeds) from Botanical Pursuits.
13. Papalo
Having made it this far, you’re clearly a fan of the distinctive taste of cilantro, so there’s one other herb you would possibly prefer to learn about too – papalo.
Papalo (Porophyllum ruderale) has a taste described as “a mix of cilantro, arugula, cucumber, and citrus,” by P. Ravindrin, in “The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices,” obtainable on Amazon.
Also referred to as “Bolivian coriander,” “killi,” “papaloquelite,” “poreleaf,” “quilquina,” or ”yerba porosa,” this annual species grows to achieve three to 5 toes tall and has a 12-inch unfold.
And in contrast to cilantro, this herb doesn’t bolt in sizzling climate.
Papalo’s leaves are oval-shaped with scalloped edges. They’ve a succulent really feel, and are marked with glands crammed with important oils.
This plant’s seed head bears a resemblance to that of dandelions – which isn’t too stunning, since each are members of the daisy or Asteraceae household.
Papalo ought to be grown in full solar or half shade and it solely wants average water as soon as established.
This herb tastes greatest recent, so don’t cook dinner it or dry it – as an alternative, incorporate it into cool or room temperature dishes, or add it to sizzling meals as a garnish proper earlier than serving.
Cilantro tends to bolt by the point tomatoes and sizzling peppers are prepared to choose, however papalo will make an amazing summer season salsa ingredient!
Germination for the seeds of those crops is of course low, so make sure you sow sufficient seeds to make up for people who don’t sprout.
You’ll discover papalo obtainable for buy in packets of 20 seeds from the Palm Seaside Medicinal Herbs Retailer, by way of Amazon.
14. Pokey Joe
In case you haven’t given up common cilantro in favor of papalo after studying about our final choice, right here’s one to present it a run for its cash – ‘Pokey Joe.’
Also referred to as ‘Pokey Jo,’ this coriander is sluggish to bolt and is understood for its beautiful taste, far surpassing the style of different types of cilantro within the opinion of some gardeners.
This uncommon number of C. sativum produces a crop of recent leaves in 50 days, with seeds maturing in round 100 days.
With its positive taste, this cultivar will actually shine when it’s the focus – corresponding to in a cilantro pesto, which might be tossed with pasta or unfold on a pizza rather than tomato sauce.
Sound appetizing? Get ‘Pokey Joe’ cilantro in packs of 100 seeds by way of Amazon.
15. Rak Tamachat
Quite a lot of C. sativum with spectacular dimensions, this heirloom cultivar was collected in Thailand on the Rak Tamachat Permaculture and Pure Constructing Schooling Heart by members of the Adaptive Seeds firm.
The flavour of ‘Rak Tamachat’ is considerably milder than different cilantro cultivars, however the true function of curiosity is that these massive crops develop big leaves, that are as much as two inches vast.
Depend on 50 to 60 days for recent coriander leaves to mature, and 90 to 110 days for seeds.
With its massive leaves, this selection will work effectively for making ready the foliage as a chiffonade, maybe paired with basil leaves in recent rice paper rolls.
You’ll discover this sort obtainable from sellers of uncommon, open-pollinated seeds.
16. Santo
‘Santo’ is a fast-growing coriander selection that holds up effectively to warmth, and it has an upright progress behavior.
Also referred to as ‘Lengthy Standing,’ ‘Gradual Bolt,’ or ‘Slo Bolt,’ this number of C. sativum produces darkish inexperienced leaves which have nice taste, making this a favourite cultivar of many gardeners.
As its alternate names recommend, ‘Santo’ is sluggish to bolt. It’s prepared to reap in 50 to 55 days for bunches of foliage, and 90 to 105 days for seeds.
As an all-around favourite selection amongst cilantro followers, this cultivar is ideal to be used in Mexican or Tex-Mex model dishes corresponding to chili, burritos, or guacamole.
Prepared for this long-standing traditional? You should buy licensed natural ‘Santo’ cilantro seeds in quite a lot of package deal sizes from True Leaf Market.
17. Standby
‘Standby’ is quite a lot of C. sativum that’s sluggish to bolt and hardy in chilly climate, making it an amazing selection for fall sowing.
Quick to mature, rely on 45 days for recent foliage, and round 100 days for seeds.
Because it’s simple to maintain round when the climate is chilly, ‘Standby’ is the right cilantro to have available to high a warming butternut squash soup in autumn.
Search for ‘Standby’ cilantro from sellers of uncommon, open-pollinated seeds.
18. Sunmaster
‘Sunmaster’ is a heat-tolerant number of C. sativum that may be very sluggish to bolt.
This fast-growing and high-yielding coriander cultivar can also be very chilly hardy and produces massive, darkish inexperienced leaves.
‘Sunmaster’ will mature in roughly 50 to 55 days for leaves, and 100 days for seeds.
The leaves of this selection can be scrumptious served with both inexperienced or brown fava beans and a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice.
You’ll discover ‘Sunmaster’ cilantro on provide from small seed firms.
19. Vietnamese Coriander
Our final choice is one other various to C. sativum – Vietnamese coriander.
This species, Persicaria odorata, seems reasonably like mint, however Vietnamese coriander is definitely within the Polygonaceae or buckwheat household, associated to crops like sorrel and rhubarb.
It tastes very like cilantro, however has a sharper, and extra peppery taste. And in contrast to C. sativum, Vietnamese coriander doesn’t bolt in sizzling climate.
Also referred to as “rau ram” and “Vietnamese mint,” the leaves of Vietnamese coriander are inexperienced and lance formed, with blotches of burgundy.
Vietnamese coriander is grown in filtered shade and moist soil, nevertheless it wants glorious drainage.
This species grows six to 12 inches tall with a selection of six to 18 inches, and is perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9b to 12b.
In relation to taste, recent Vietnamese coriander is scrumptious when used to high a dish of spicy noodles or a bowl of Asian-style soup.
It’s extra frequent to search out this species offered as a stay plant than it’s to see seeds.
Vietnamese Coriander Dwell Plant in 3” Pot
You’ll discover stay Vietnamese coriander crops obtainable for buy in three-inch pots from Hirt’s Backyard Retailer by way of Amazon.
Your Entry to the Cilantro Collector Membership
I wager, like me, you by no means knew you’d want – or need! – multiple kind of cilantro in your life.
However now that you just’ve found the choices, maybe there are no less than a number of that can discover a common spot in your backyard.
Do you’ve a private favourite amongst these high picks, or one that you just’re excited to strive? Have I uncared for one among your most well-liked varieties that you just suppose our readers ought to learn about? Inform us within the feedback part beneath!
And whereas your ideas are on rising fragrant herbs, why not hold studying about them proper right here:
