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Your cart is empty.Cilantro, known scientifically as Coriandrum sativum, is a versatile herb that’s easy to grow from seed and cherished for its fresh, citrusy flavor. When planted, cilantro seeds—often called coriander seeds—sprout into delicate, feathery leaves within a few weeks, thriving in well-drained soil and full sun. The leaves are a staple in cuisines worldwide, adding a bright punch to salsas, guacamole, curries, and salads. In Mexican and Southeast Asian dishes, it’s often used raw as a garnish to enhance flavors, while the seeds, when dried, offer a warm, earthy taste perfect for spice blends, marinades, or pickling. Cilantro’s quick growth makes it a favorite for home gardeners, though it can bolt in hot weather, signaling it’s time to harvest or let it flower for more seeds. Culantro, or Eryngium foetidum, is a lesser-known cousin with a bolder personality, also grown from seed but requiring a bit more patience as it establishes its long, serrated leaves. Often dubbed "Mexican coriander" or "shadow beni," culantro prefers partial shade and moist soil, making it ideal for tropical climates. Its flavor is more intense and pungent than cilantro, with a deep, herbaceous bite that shines in Caribbean, Latin American, and Southeast Asian cooking. It’s a key ingredient in Puerto Rican sofrito, Trinidadian green seasoning, and Vietnamese pho, where its leaves are chopped or blended into sauces, stews, and soups. Unlike cilantro, culantro holds up well to long cooking, releasing its robust essence over time, and its resilience makes it a rewarding addition to any herb garden.
Steve Frye
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2025
With cilantro you can plant 2-3 seeds per hole and space them under an inch apart for harvesting leaves, with planning to thin them out. You can keep trimming and growing them so this is a lot for a backyard gardener. Keep them shaded on very hot days or space half a foot apart & plan to harvest the coriander seeds instead.This one pouch could easily be stretched to grow over a couple years if you keep them cool and dry. You'll want to plan a bunch, but there are so many - if you have room to grow a lot & plan to share with friends or sell it then go to town, you probably already know what to do. For the backyard, read up a little, spread the seeds generously and enjoy in guacamole, Mexican & Indian recipes, or so many other things.This is a great herb to get your thumb to start turning green.
Robert Jackson
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2025
Review of Seed Needs Culantro/Cilantro Seeds Variety PackI recently ventured into the world of indoor and outdoor culinary gardening and came across the Seed Needs Culantro/Cilantro Seeds variety pack. As an aspiring cook, I was thrilled at the prospect of adding fresh herbs to my meals, and I was particularly intrigued by the inclusion of culantro—a herb I had never encountered before.First off, the packaging of the seed packs was delightful. It’s great to see a focus on non-GMO, heirloom, and untreated seeds, which aligns with my desire to grow food that is healthy and sustainable. The instructions provided were clear and straightforward, making it easy for beginners like me to start my herb garden without getting overwhelmed.The cilantro seeds sprouted quickly, and I was amazed at how rapidly the plants grew. Cilantro's fresh, citrusy flavor truly does elevate any dish—especially salsas and tacos. I loved being able to snip fresh leaves for garnishes right from my kitchen window, and I particularly enjoyed experimenting with using the dried seeds in marinades.Equally exciting was the experience of growing culantro. Its robust, pungent flavor adds depth to my cooking that cilantro sometimes lacks. I was fascinated to discover that culantro is a staple in Caribbean and Asian cuisine. The versatility of its culinary uses quickly became apparent, and I can't wait to incorporate it into stews and pho once I have a nice harvest.Both herbs require some care, and I appreciated the tips that came with my seed packets. I started picking cilantro leaves early to encourage growth, and I’ve noticed that the more I harvest, the more it flourishes. Culantro, on the other hand, has proven to be remarkably resilient. I love the idea of cutting the outer leaves to promote regrowth; it's like having a never-ending supply of a powerful flavor enhancer at my fingertips.One of my favorite aspects of this variety pack is the connection to diverse culinary traditions. With names like "shadow beni" and "Recao," there’s an inviting cultural richness to working with these plants. I look forward to expanding my culinary repertoire with these herbs.In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend the Seed Needs Culantro/Cilantro Seeds for anyone looking to start their indoor or outdoor herb garden. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a novice like me, incorporating these herbs into your cooking will elevate your dishes and provide a unique flavor profile that is both vibrant and robust. I can't wait for my culantro to grow fully, and I’m eager to explore all the culinary delights that await me. Happy gardening!
Sage P
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2025
I absolutely love cooking with fresh herbs, and this cilantro and culantro combo has been such a game-changer in my kitchen! The cilantro has that classic fresh, citrusy pop that makes it perfect for tacos, salsas, curries, and even chopped into fresh salads. It grows quickly and if you keep picking the leaves, it just keeps coming back strong. Bonus: I’ve even harvested the seeds (coriander!) for cooking and replanting!The culantro was new to me, and WOW—it’s now a staple in my pantry. It’s bolder and more pungent than cilantro, with a flavor that holds up really well in cooked dishes like soups, stews, and especially my new obsession: Caribbean sofrito. I use it in my pho broth too, and it adds such a rich, herbaceous layer.Both plants were easy to grow and harvest, even for someone like me who doesn’t have the greenest thumb. I appreciate the clear harvest tips too—cutting the culantro’s outer leaves and picking the cilantro often really made a difference in how long they lasted.If you're into bold, authentic global flavors, this duo is a must. Great for gardeners, cooks, or anyone curious to try something beyond the usual herbs. 🌿
KaCee
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2025
Variety of herbs. Packet shows germination growth rate. Instructions on planting and when to plant this variety of cilantro.Doesn't cost much to try this out.
Laura P.
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2025
I am trying to grow the culantro in a standard soil block with a tiny bit of vermiculite sprinkled on top + heat mat + humidity dome set up as well as hydroponics, and I am having zero luck with germination at 18 day mark... I will keep holding out and trying some new things, but so far, not successful with that one indoors yet. I haven't tried soaking them first with zero cover, so I will do that next...The cilantro was easy enough to get going. I've never had an issue with it. A little cut or smash and they grow for me no matter how I do it.Quality seeds will get more from them in the future.
CorrieLovesBooks
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2025
I was super surprised by how lovely the packaging is on these seeds. They came in super thick envelopes with great info on them.I’ve been gardening for (ahem) 30+ years, and the seed packets are much nicer than most, with genuinely helpful growing info and lovely designs. As for whether they sprout, I’m assuming they’ll do well, but I’ll report back if that changes.A few notes for my fellow gardeners: I’ve been wanting to grow culantro for years, but have read that it can be trickier to germinate. it's supposed to be amazing, though, because it LOVES hot weather. Cilantro is much easier to germinate, but “bolts” fast in hot weather. So getting a 2-pack of these seeds for this price ($5.99 for 2 as of the time of my order) is great—you can try the tricky cilantro, and not have spent too much on it! Woo hoo.PS: This review is about Seed Needs’ “Culantro/Cilantro Seeds for Planting an Indoor or Outdoor Culinary Herb Garden” 2-pack.
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