Bonnie Plants Cilantro (2 Pack)

If you like the aromatic flavor of salsa served in Mexican restaurants, you'll like cilantro. The leaves have an instantly recognizable fragrance that fills a room when you cut them. Sometimes called Chinese parsley, its distinctive aroma and flavor is also part of Caribbean and Asian foods, lending flavor to recaito, salsas, curries, salads, chutneys, herbed butters, and meat marinades.

Cilantro looks like flat leaf Italian parsley, but the leaves are thinner. It grows in a rosette of stemmy leaves that are ready to harvest shortly after planting. Young leaves have the best flavor, so be sure to harvest often. It is a fast-growing annual except in milder climates where it will overwinter. Cilantro grows tall and blooms at the end of its life, usually after the weather gets hot. After it blooms, harvest the seeds--they are what you buy in spice jars as coriander, another common ingredient in Asian cooking. You can grind the seeds or use them whole. Some gardeners also let the seeds drop to make new plants. Fall is a great time to grow cilantro in mild climates, as the plants are frost tolerant and love the cool weather in fall, winter, and early spring. Organic varieties are only available at retailers.

Key Highlights

• LightFull Sun to Partial Shade
• Plant Spacing12 to 18 inches apart
• Plant HeightShort (0-24″)
• Planting TimeEarly Spring, Fall
• Annual/PerennialAnnual
• Pot MaterialGrowers
• Culinary UseLeaves & seeds in Mexican, Caribbean or Asian dishes

How to Grow

Try growing cilantro for fresh flavor in everything from salsa to marinade. Cilantro prefers cool weather, so plant in spring or fall.

Remove Packaging

Take each individual bonnie plant out of the box before carefully opening each individual plant’s packaging. Be cautious of soil that may have shifted during transportation.

Check the Soil

Your plants were watered right before shipping, but they may have become thirsty during travel. If the soil is dry to the touch, give your plants a good drink before planting.

Adjustment Period

Let your plants get used to their new environment. Set them in a warm, sunny spot for 34 to 48 hours so they can recover from their trip before being planted.