Pollinator plant

Caraway

Carum carvi

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

49 names · 39 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (38)
Dutch
French
Arabic
  • كروياء[4]
Armenian
  • Քեմոն սովորական[4]
Basque
Belarusian
  • Кмен звычайны[4]
Burmese
  • ကရဝေး[4]
Catalan
  • comí de prat[4]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Czech
  • kmín kořenný[4]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik köömen[4]
Faroese
  • donsk kumman[4]
Finnish
Galician
German
Greek
  • Άγριο κύμινο[4]
Hungarian
  • fűszer kömény[4]
  • Fűszerkömény[4]
Icelandic
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
  • カルム[4]
  • キャラウェイ[4]
  • ヒメウイキョウ[4]
Latvian
  • Pļavas ķimene[4]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis kmynas[4]
Mongolian
  • Эгэл гоньд[4]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Kminek zwyczajny[4]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Тмин обыкновенный[4]
Slovak
  • rasca lúčna[4]
Slovenian
  • navadna kumina[4]
Spanish
Swedish
Telugu
  • కరం కర్వె[4]
Thai
  • เทียนตากบ[4]
Ukrainian
  • Кмин звичайний[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Carum carvi — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Caraway — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Carum carvi.
  • Meridian Fennel — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Carum carvi.
  • Persian Cumin — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Carum carvi.
[2] Carum carvi — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Caraway — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Karwij — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Kümmel — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Wiesen-Kümmel — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • meridian fennel — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Persian cumin — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Alcaravea — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • carvi commun — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Carvi — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Cumino dei prati — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Alcaravia — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Carum carvi ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Caraway (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138643; taxon RHGC.
  • Wiesen-Kümmel (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138644; taxon RHGC.
[4] Carum carvi — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Caraway — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Karwij — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Kümmel — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Wiesen-Kümmel — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • meridian fennel — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Persian cumin — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Alcaravea — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • carvi commun — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Carvi — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Cumino dei prati — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Alcaravia — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Alcaravea — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • kmín kořenný — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Fűszerkömény — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Kim — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Άγριο κύμινο — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Txarpoil — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Kumina — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Kminek zwyczajny — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • เทียนตากบ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • కరం కర్వె — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • 葛縷子 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • ကရဝေး — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Jintan — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Kommen — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Тмин обыкновенный — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • karve — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • maustekumina — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Paprastasis kmynas — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • ヒメウイキョウ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • キャラウェイ — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • カルム — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • kummin — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • brödkummin — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • harilik köömen — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • 葛缕子 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Քեմոն սովորական — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Эгэл гоньд — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • donsk kumman — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Кмен звычайны — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Кмин звичайний — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • كروياء — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • navadna kumina — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Pļavas ķimene — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • fűszer kömény — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • comí de prat — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • Kúmen — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
  • rasca lúčna — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 160162; Carum carvi.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Carum carvi is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Apiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.25–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Biennial; Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Temperate Eurasia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.60 m high × 0.30 m wide
Lifecycle
Biennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-9
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Root, Seed, Tea, Seasoning
Functions
Essential oil, Parasiticide, Fragrant
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

Seeds: consumed raw or cooked, have a spicy flavor and are used to season dishes such as pastries, bread, salads, and vegetables. They are a good source of protein and fats and can also serve as chewing gum, making your breath smell sweeter and helping with heartburn. Essential oil can be extracted from the seeds, which is used as a flavoring in ice cream, candy, soft drinks, and even in the liqueur Kümmel. Additionally, tea can be made from the seeds after they have been crushed. This tea has a calming effect on digestion. Roots: eaten cooked and compared to parsnips, but with a more intense flavor. Despite the strong taste, many people find them enjoyable. Leaves: raw or used as a seasoning in soups, have a milder flavor than the seeds and taste like parsley and dill. They are ideal for salads. The older leaves can be cooked like spinach.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Carum carvi — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5130270; ID RHGC; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5130270; ID RHGC; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Carum carvi — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .