Coriandrum sativum
Origin: Sahl Arraba, Palestine
Improvement status: Landrace
Seeds per packet: ~60
Germination tested 11/2023: 90%
Life cycle: Annual
We're very pleased to be making this Palestinian heirloom coriander available to US gardeners and farmers for the first time. It's a prolific seed producer, grown mainly for the seeds (which are generally called "coriander" in English), though the leaves ("cilantro") are also flavorful.
This variety was stewarded for at least a century on the Arraba plain south of Jenin (in the northern West Bank) by the family of farmer Fasal Luhloh, who received it from his father. Luhloh gave some to Hebron University professor Dr. Khaled Hardan in 2005 for a Palestinian seed project, which in turn shared some with the US government. It's maintained now as part of the National Plant Germplasm System at the USDA's North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa.
These seed was grown for us by our friend Jen Williams of Wild Dreams Farm in Washington state. 25% of the proceeds will go to the grower and 25% will go support the work of our partners with the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library.
