The illustrated growing guide
Vietnamese Coriander (Rau Ram)
Persicaria odorata
Family Polygonaceae
Est. zones 2-11
The herb that makes Vietnamese food taste Vietnamese — peppery, lemony leaves with a cilantro-like warmth, scattered fresh over pho, spring rolls, and chicken salad. It loves moisture (thrives in a pot sitting in a saucer of water), roots from any cutting in days, and comes indoors for winter. No bolting, no fuss, endless cutting.
Full Sun to Part Shade
High water
Fast growthI
Overview
Will vietnamese coriander (rau ram) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what vietnamese coriander (rau ram) actually needs.
Life cycleTender perennial, grown as an annualVietnamese Coriander (Rau Ram) at a glance
Common vietnamese coriander (rau ram) problems
- Almost none
- Almost none
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow vietnamese coriander (rau ram): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate vietnamese coriander (rau ram)
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The year
What vietnamese coriander (rau ram) asks for, month by month.
The vietnamese coriander (rau ram) year, month by month
HarvestWhat each band means
- Harvest — picking time — check ripeness every few days.
The vietnamese coriander (rau ram) year as text
- Jan harvest
- Feb harvest
- Mar harvest
- Apr harvest
- May harvest
- Jun harvest
- Jul harvest
- Aug harvest
- Sep harvest
- Oct harvest
- Nov harvest
- Dec harvest
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Vietnamese Coriander (Rau Ram) in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
What vietnamese coriander (rau ram) is grown for
✓ Commonly eaten
Harvesting & storing vietnamese coriander (rau ram)
Peppery, cilantro-lemon leaves year-round — the fresh herb of Vietnamese cooking (pho, spring rolls, chicken salad).
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of vietnamese coriander (rau ram), ruled as a catalogue.
Best vietnamese coriander (rau ram) varieties & cultivars
Species (rau ram)
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to vietnamese coriander (rau ram)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Vietnamese Coriander (Rau Ram) questions, answered straight.
Is vietnamese coriander (rau ram) safe for kids and pets?
Vietnamese Coriander (Rau Ram) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
When do you harvest vietnamese coriander (rau ram)?
Peppery, cilantro-lemon leaves year-round — the fresh herb of Vietnamese cooking (pho, spring rolls, chicken salad).
How do you propagate vietnamese coriander (rau ram)?
Division or seed.
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Elsewhere
Where vietnamese coriander (rau ram) sits in the library.
Comfrey
Lavender
Rosemary
Anise Hyssop