How Cold Hardy Is Cilantro

Cilantro is surprisingly cold hardy and can tolerate light frosts, making it one of the more resilient herbs in a cool-weather garden.
 
If you’ve been wondering just how cold hardy cilantro really is, the short answer is that it handles temperatures down to about 20°F (-6°C) for short periods, though prolonged freezes will eventually do it in.
 
Cilantro actually prefers cooler weather over scorching summer heat, which is why it bolts so fast when the temperature climbs.
 
In this post, we’ll dig into exactly how cold hardy cilantro is, the temperatures it can survive, and how to protect it when winter bites.
 
Let’s get growing.
 

How Cold Hardy Is Cilantro?

Cilantro is more cold hardy than most people give it credit for, and here’s why it handles the chill so well:
 

1. Cilantro Tolerates Light Frost

The cold hardiness of cilantro starts with its ability to shrug off light frost.
 
When temperatures dip to around 28–32°F (-2 to 0°C), cilantro plants usually come through just fine with minimal damage.
 
That’s because cilantro is a cool-season herb that evolved in regions with chilly nights, so a little frost doesn’t scare it.
 

2. It Survives Down to Around 20°F

How cold hardy is cilantro when the mercury really drops?
 
Mature cilantro plants can survive brief spells down to about 20°F (-6°C), especially if they’re established and mulched.
 
That said, prolonged exposure to temperatures below 20°F will kill the plant, so it’s not truly winter-proof.
 

3. Young Seedlings Are Tougher Than You Think

Cilantro seedlings are surprisingly cold hardy too.
 
They can germinate in soil as cool as 55°F (13°C) and keep growing when the air hovers near freezing.
 
This is why fall-planted cilantro often outperforms spring plantings, since it dodges the heat that makes cilantro bolt.
 

4. Cold Hardiness Depends on Plant Age

The cold hardiness of cilantro isn’t the same for every plant.
 
Older, well-rooted cilantro handles frost far better than tender seedlings that just sprouted.
 
So if you’re pushing the limits of how cold hardy cilantro can be, give your plants time to mature before the first freeze.
 

What Temperatures Damage or Kill Cilantro?

Knowing the limits of cilantro’s cold hardiness helps you plan ahead:
 

1. Light Frost (28–32°F)

At this range, cilantro shows minor leaf discoloration but usually recovers.
 
The cold hardy nature of cilantro means it can bounce back once temperatures rise again.
 

2. Hard Frost (25–28°F)

A hard frost can nip the outer leaves and slow growth, but the crown often survives.
 
This is where mulch and row covers make a real difference in protecting cilantro.
 

3. Deep Freeze (Below 20°F)

Sustained temperatures below 20°F will freeze the roots and kill cilantro outright.
 
So while cilantro is cold hardy, it’s not invincible in a deep freeze.
 

How to Protect Cilantro From the Cold

Even though cilantro is cold hardy, a little protection goes a long way:
 

1. Use Mulch or Straw

Spread a 2–3 inch layer of straw or shredded leaves around the base.
 
This insulates the roots and boosts the cold hardiness of cilantro during frosty nights.
 

2. Cover With Row Covers or Cloches

Floating row covers or glass cloches trap warmth and shield cilantro from wind chill.
 
On extra cold nights, this simple step can mean the difference between life and death for your plants.
 

3. Water Before a Freeze

Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil.
 
Give cilantro a good drink before a cold snap to help it ride out the chill.
 

4. Plant in Protected Spots

A south-facing bed near a wall stays warmer and plays to cilantro’s cold hardiness.
 
Sheltered spots also cut down on frost damage from wind.
 

5. Grow Cilantro in Containers

Potted cilantro can be moved indoors or into a garage when temps plunge.
 
This is a smart trick if you want to stretch cilantro’s cold hardiness through winter.
 

So, How Cold Hardy Is Cilantro?

Cilantro is fairly cold hardy, surviving light frosts and brief dips to around 20°F, though prolonged deep freezes will kill it.
 
Its cold hardiness comes down to plant age, soil moisture, and the protection you provide.
 
With mulch, covers, and smart placement, you can push cilantro’s cold hardiness further than you’d expect.
 
So don’t rush to pull your cilantro when the first frost hits, because this cold hardy herb has more fight in it than you might think.