Companion Plant Guide
Spinach
Cool season companions.
Herb · Umbellifer family
Cilantro companion plants
Coriandrum sativum
What to plant beside cilantro, what to keep apart, and how to grow it — sun, spacing, soil and the pairings used in this guide.
Photo: Natalie Kinnear on Unsplash
Overview
Growing cilantro beside the right neighbour
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a herb in the Umbellifer family. Fast-growing herb for cool seasons, bolts in heat.
Cilantro bolts fast in heat — sow it beside leafy crops that give it light shade.
Give plants 6–12 in in sun or part shade. Aim for well-draining, moderate fertility. In most gardens the crop sits in USDA zones 2-11 and is ready in about 15-25 (for leaves) days.
Grows well with
What to plant with cilantro
The strongest companions for cilantro in this guide are Spinach and Lettuce. Each pairing below is a reason to share a bed — pest masking, roots that do not compete, or insects that hunt the pests cilantro attracts.
Lettuce
Complementary growth patterns.
In the bed
How to grow cilantro
| Sun | Sun or part shade |
|---|---|
| Spacing | 6–12 in |
| Soil | Well-draining, moderate fertility |
| Hardiness | Zones 2-11 |
| Days to maturity | 15-25 (for leaves) |
These notes sit beside the companion lists — they are how cilantro actually occupies the bed, not a substitute for local climate.
- Sow seeds every 3 weeks for continuous harvest
- Bolts quickly in hot weather
- Shade in summer to extend season
- Let some plants flower for beneficial insects
Questions
Cilantro companion planting FAQ
What can I plant next to cilantro?
Plant Spinach and Lettuce beside cilantro. Spinach: Cool season companions. Lettuce: Complementary growth patterns.
What should I not plant with cilantro?
Cilantro has no recorded antagonists in this guide.
How much sun does cilantro need?
Cilantro wants sun or part shade. Space plants 6–12 in apart in well-draining, moderate fertility.
How long does cilantro take to mature?
Most cilantro crops in this guide mature in 15-25 (for leaves) days, in hardiness zones 2-11.
Compare every pairing at a glance
Open the guide, pick cilantro, and see what thrives alongside it — and what quietly holds it back.
Open the pairing guide