# Cilantro (*Coriandrum sativum*) Cilantro is an herb with bright green leaves that are used in many dishes. Some people love its taste, while others do not! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Gardens and sunny spots ![Cilantro](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426249/objects/4956.jpg) ## Appearance The Cilantro has delicate, bright green, deeply lobed leaves that resemble flat-leaf parsley but are more finely cut. It produces slender stems topped with clusters of tiny white to pale pink flowers in umbrella-like formations. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Apiales - **Family:** Apiaceae - **Genus:** Coriandrum ## Interesting facts - Ancient Egyptians used cilantro over 3,000 years ago as medicine and food! - Fresh leaves and dried seeds come from the same plant, tasting very different! - Planting cilantro nearby can help protect other garden vegetables from pesky bugs! - Some people think cilantro tastes like soap because of special genes! ## Special abilities - **Self-Seeding Master:** Cilantro can drop its seeds directly into the soil, easily growing new plants for the next season. - **Aromatic Shield:** Cilantro has strong aromatic compounds that deter some common garden pests, protecting itself from hungry insects. - **Quick Seed Burst:** In warm weather, Cilantro rapidly grows a tall flower stalk to produce seeds, ensuring it reproduces quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — attracted to its small white flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** Green Peach Aphid (*Myzus persicae*) — a common garden pest feeding on its leaves and sap. - **Depends on:** Green Lacewing (*Chrysoperla carnea*) — adults feed on nectar; larvae eat pests like aphids. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are cilantro and coriander from the same plant? Yes. Both come from Coriandrum sativum. In common North American culinary usage, cilantro means the fresh leaves and coriander means the dried, ripe seeds used as a spice. ### Why do cilantro leaves change shape as the plant grows? Young plants have broader, flatter leaves. When the flowering stem develops, its leaves become much more finely divided and fern-like. ### How tall can cilantro grow? Wisconsin's horticulture guide describes foliage about 30–45 cm high and flowering stems reaching roughly 60–90 cm. The tall flowering stage therefore looks quite different from a young leafy plant. ### Why does cilantro bolt quickly in warm weather? It is a cool-season herb that readily switches to flowering and seed production in hot weather. Once it bolts, leaf flavour can change and the useful leaf-harvest period becomes shorter. ### How can I keep harvesting fresh cilantro for longer? Sow small batches at intervals instead of relying on one planting. Maryland and Wisconsin recommend successive sowings about every two to three weeks; cooler growing conditions and some light afternoon shade can also help. ### How do I harvest cilantro leaves? Pick outer leaves without stripping a young plant. Wisconsin recommends beginning when plants are about 15 cm tall; harvesting before bolting gives the familiar fresh-leaf flavour. ### When can coriander seed be harvested from cilantro? Let plants flower and wait for the seed heads to turn brown, then gather the mature seeds. Maryland's guide stresses allowing the seeds to mature before culinary use. ### Why does cilantro taste soapy to some people? Its aroma includes aldehydes that different people perceive differently. Genetic studies found associations near smell-receptor genes, including the OR6A2 region, but genetics explains only part of whether someone likes the herb. ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cilantro: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cilantro)