Eryngium foetidum
“Culantro”

 

Rare in the States, but used extensively throughout Latin America & Asia, Culantro is valued for its strong, Cilantro-like flavor. If you love Cilantro then odds are that you’ll be a Culantro fan, too. Plus, Culantro stores better, can be dried & can be used either fresh or cooked. It’s far more heat tolerant than Cilantro is, so it bolts less. It can be grown in sun or shade, commercial growers grow their plants in a moist (not wet) shady place for better leaf production & less blooming stems. Pinch out blooming stems if your plant starts to bolt. A biennial, but sometimes lives longer than year two. Winter deciduous when perennial. Eryngium foetidum is originally native to tropical Central America, where it is found growing in semi-shaded areas in heavy soils. To cultivate, rich soil with good drainage is recommended. Grows 10” x 10”, with slightly serrated green leaves in a rosette.

Claire Woods
Propagator