Cilantro Companion Plants
Herb45 days to maturity
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a fast-growing cool-season annual herb whose leaves flavor salsas and curries, while its dried seeds are sold as the spice coriander. It bolts quickly in summer heat, sending up lacy umbel flowers that are magnets for hoverflies, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. That tendency to flower makes cilantro one of the best insectary plants for drawing beneficial predators into the garden.
Companion Checker: what grows well with Cilantro?
Tap any plant to see whether it pairs well with Cilantro and why. Green means a beneficial companion, red means keep them apart.
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Companion Planting Strategy for Cilantro
Cilantro's best companion trick is to be left to bolt, since its umbel flowers are among the most attractive plants for hoverflies, lacewings, and parasitic wasps that devour aphids and caterpillars. It also shares cool-season, moisture-loving habits with carrots and other crops, so it slots easily into spring and fall plantings.
Best Companion Plants for Cilantro
These plants grow well alongside Cilantro — providing pest control, attracting pollinators, or making better use of your garden space.
Cilantro and anise are compatible aromatic herbs, and cilantro is traditionally said to aid anise germination and growth.
As fellow members of the carrot family, cilantro and carrots share cool, moist growing conditions, and cilantro's flowers draw predatory insects that protect the carrots.
Cilantro left to flower attracts ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps that prey on aphids and hornworms that attack tomatoes.
What Not to Plant With Cilantro
Keep these away from Cilantro. They compete for resources, attract shared pests, or inhibit each other's growth.
Fennel releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit the growth of cilantro and most other plants growing nearby.
How to Grow Cilantro
- Botanical name
- Coriandrum sativum
- Family
- Carrot/Parsley (Apiaceae)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade, with afternoon shade in heat to slow bolting
- Water
- Consistent moisture, about 1 inch per week
- Soil
- Light, well-draining soil, pH 6.2-6.8
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches apart
- Planting depth
- Sow seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, directly where it will grow
- Germination
- 7-14 days at 55-68F
- Days to maturity
- 45-70 days for leaves; about 90 days or more for coriander seed
- When to plant
- Cool season; sow in early spring and again in fall, since it bolts in summer heat
- Harvest
- Cut outer leaves once plants are 6 inches tall; harvest seed when the seed heads turn brown
Common Cilantro Problems
Bolting (premature flowering and going to seed in heat)
Grow in cool spring and fall weather, provide afternoon shade in heat, sow successively every few weeks, and choose slow-bolt varieties for leaf production.
Bacterial leaf spot (dark, angular spots on leaves)
Avoid overhead watering, give plants room to dry, rotate crops, and remove infected foliage; use disease-free seed.
Powdery mildew (white coating on foliage)
Improve airflow by thinning, water at the base, and avoid crowding plants in humid conditions.
Aphids on tender new growth
Spray colonies off with water and let the plant's flowers attract ladybugs and hoverflies; use insecticidal soap if needed.
Cilantro Companion Planting FAQ
What are the best companion plants for cilantro?
Cilantro grows well with carrots and tomatoes and pairs traditionally with anise; once it flowers, it draws hoverflies and parasitic wasps that protect those crops from aphids. It thrives alongside other cool-season vegetables that share its moisture needs.
What should you not plant with cilantro?
Keep cilantro away from fennel, which releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit the growth of cilantro and most other garden plants. Fennel is best grown by itself in an isolated spot.
Why does my cilantro keep bolting?
Cilantro bolts, sending up flowers and going to seed, when temperatures climb above about 75F or days lengthen. Plant it in cool spring and fall weather, give it afternoon shade in heat, sow successively, and choose slow-bolt varieties.
Can you plant cilantro with tomatoes?
Yes. Cilantro left to flower attracts ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps that prey on tomato pests like aphids and hornworms. Just give each plant room, since cilantro prefers cooler conditions than mature tomatoes.
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Plan Your Cilantro Garden
Use our interactive tools to design the perfect garden with Cilantro and its companions.