3,000 Culantro Seeds (Eryngium foetidum)

Grow culantro (recao / ngò gai) from seed. This listing is for one pack of 3,000 culantro planting seeds, botanically labeled Eryngium foetidum. Culantro is a strongly flavored herb used in Caribbean, Latin American and Southeast Asian cooking. It is not cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), fresh leaves or a live plant.

What You Receive

• Quantity: One pack, 3,000 seeds as listed.
• Species: Eryngium foetidum.
• Other names: Culantro, recao, ngò gai, sawtooth coriander and long coriander.
• Use: Planting and growing culinary herb leaves. Seeds are not sold as food or for sprouting to eat.

Is Culantro Right for Your Garden?

Choose culantro if you have a warm growing season, a spot with bright shade or partial shade, and soil that stays evenly moist but drains well. Culantro can grow in a garden bed or a pot with drainage holes. Protect seedlings from harsh afternoon sun.

Plan for patience: Culantro seeds may emerge slowly. UF/IFAS gives about three weeks as a general reference, but actual timing and germination vary by conditions and seed lot. A specific germination percentage is not guaranteed for this pack.

How to Start the Seeds

1. Fill a tray or prepared bed with a fine, well-drained seed-starting mix.
2. Sow the small seeds shallowly, following any packet-specific instructions. Start with a small test batch.
3. Keep the surface gently moist, never waterlogged, and give it protected light.
4. Thin or transplant established seedlings carefully. Harvest outer leaves after plants have developed enough foliage to keep growing.

For more detailed troubleshooting and a germination timeline, see our How to Plant Culantro Seeds guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ideal growing conditions for culantro?

Warm conditions, shade or filtered light, and moist, freely draining soil. A container with drainage can work well.

How long does culantro take to germinate?

About three weeks is a general UF/IFAS reference, not a guaranteed deadline. Keep the seedbed moist and check conditions before assuming a slow batch has failed.

What is the difference in flavor between culantro and cilantro?

Culantro has a stronger, more pungent cilantro-like flavor. They are different species; use a smaller amount when substituting culantro for cilantro in a recipe, then adjust to taste.

Can you propagate culantro from cuttings?

Yes, stem cuttings can be used, but this product contains planting seeds only, not cuttings or rooted plants.

Are these seeds certified organic or guaranteed to germinate?

No lot-specific organic certification, tested germination percentage or germination guarantee is provided for this listing. If those details are essential, contact the store before ordering.

General cultivation guidance: University of Florida IFAS, Culantro. Species-level growing advice does not verify the performance of an individual seed packet.