Why does my cilantro turn into flowers so fast?

Cilantro is a cool-weather plant that bolts quickly when temperatures rise.

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes, it grows well in a sunny windowsill with at least six hours of light.

Plant guide

Cilantro.

Coriandrum sativum

Pronounced kor-ee-AN-drum sah-TEE-vum

Also known as Chinese parsley, Chinese-parsley, Coriander

coriander — Photo by Juan Carlos Caicedo Hernández (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Cilantro is a fast growing annual herb that is prized for its fresh, citrusy leaves. It is a cool season crop that tends to bolt quickly once temperatures rise. You can harvest the leaves for fresh use or let it go to seed to collect coriander.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 2 to 4 days
Mature size: 60 cm tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 11
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to prevent premature bolting. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate overwatering or heat stress. If the plant starts producing tall flower stalks, let the seeds form and harvest them once they turn brown and dry.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Regularly pinch back the tops to encourage bushier growth and delay flowering.
Repotting: As an annual, this plant is typically grown from seed and not repotted.
Soil: Well draining, fertile loam
Soil pH: 6.2 to 6.8
Temperature: 7 to 24°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Annual, typically 3 to 6 months.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth despite regular feeding.
Soil drying out too quickly.

Safety

People: This plant is non-toxic to humans.
Children: No specific safety concerns exist for children, though seeds are small and pose a minor choking hazard.
Contact allergens: Some people may experience skin irritation or dermatitis when handling fresh foliage.
Airborne allergens: Pollen can trigger mild respiratory reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering phase.
Edibility: Ensure seeds are fully dried before storage to prevent mold growth.

How to identify it

Lacy, bright green compound leaves
Small white or pinkish flower umbels
Strong, distinct citrusy aroma
Slender, upright branching stems

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.3m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: white, pale pink, 0.3 to 0.5cm
Fruit: tan, brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
BoltingCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Leaf MinersUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: In mild climates, it can survive the winter as a small rosette. In cold regions, it is best treated as an annual and replanted in spring.
In containers: It grows well in containers, provided the pot is at least 15 cm deep and has good drainage.

Direct Sowing

1. Prepare well-draining soil in a sunny spot.
2. Sow seeds 1 cm deep and 5 cm apart.
3. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination.
4. Thin seedlings to 15 cm apart once they have two sets of leaves.

Plant cilantro in succession every few weeks to ensure a steady harvest throughout the cool season.

Grows well with

Dill · They share similar growing requirements, and both attract beneficial insects when in flower.
Tomato · Cilantro helps attract beneficial predatory insects that protect tomatoes from pests.

Keep away from

Fennel · Fennel produces allelopathic chemicals that can inhibit the growth of many garden herbs.

Similar species

Parsley · It is a closely related herb with a similar growth habit but different flavor profile.

Science

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Coriandrum
Order: Apiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern Europe to Southwestern Asia.
Conservation: This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open fields where it can quickly complete its life cycle before summer heat.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, beneficial insect attractor
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: culinary herb, spice, medicinal tea, companion planting

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Moisture: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why does my cilantro turn into flowers so fast?: Cilantro is a cool-weather plant that bolts quickly when temperatures rise.
Can I grow it indoors?: Yes, it grows well in a sunny windowsill with at least six hours of light.

Where the name comes from

The name Coriandrum comes from the Greek word koris, meaning bedbug, referring to the scent of the unripe fruit.

Good to know

The leaves are called cilantro and the dried seeds are called coriander.
Coriander seeds were historically used in love potions.
It is a member of the Apiaceae family, related to carrots and parsley.
Some people have a genetic variation that makes cilantro taste like soap.

Keep your cilantro growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.