Caraway
Carum carvi
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Pl. F650 — Carum carvi
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IOverview
Overview
Carum carvi, commonly known as caraway, is a biennial herb native to a wide range of regions including Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, extending to Turkey. This plant thrives in various soil types, including light (sandy), medium, and heavy (clay) soils, with a preference for moist conditions. Caraway is adaptable to a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5 and grows up to 0.6 meters tall, making it suitable for cultivation across USDA zones 3-9. The plant is known for its culinary and traditional medicinal uses, particularly as a carminative to aid digestion. Its seeds, leaves, and roots can all be consumed, with the seeds being most commonly used in baking and cooking. Caraway is also valued for its essential oil, pest control properties, and dynamic accumulator qualities, making it a useful addition to gardens and landscapes. While traditionally used for bloating, it is important to use caraway in moderation and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Quick answers
What is Caraway?
Carum carvi, commonly known as caraway, is a biennial herb native to a wide range of regions including Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, extending to Turkey.
What is Caraway used for?
Traditionally used for digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Caraway
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · traditional-use context
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · traditional-use contextTraditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
- Traditional use: caraway as carminative for bloating, often with peppermint.
Carvone — antispasmodic
▲ LimitedDigestion →
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Digestive Ease
digestiontea
Traditional use for aiding digestion and bloating.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Caraway, or Carum carvi, thrives in light to medium soil, preferring a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. It requires moist conditions and is hardy in zones 3-9, making it adaptable to various temperate regions. Caraway is a biennial plant that grows to about 0.6 meters in height, and it can be propagated by seeds. It thrives in light (sandy), medium, and heavy (clay) soils, making it versatile for different garden settings. Ensure it receives adequate water and sunlight for best results. The plant is known for its carminative properties, traditionally used to alleviate bloating and digestive issues.
Light
8/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
3-9
Life cycle
Biennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.6 m tall
Soil pH
5.5–6.5
For first-time growers
How to grow Caraway for the first time
7steps
Start with a simple planting of caraway seeds in your garden for beginners.
- 1
What you'll need
Caraway seeds, potting soil, small containers or a garden bed.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in early spring or late summer for best results.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Use well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5–6.5, ensuring it's light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay).
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, providing partial shade if necessary.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water regularly to maintain consistent moisture. Mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune dead leaves and spent flowers to encourage new growth, but wait until the second year for seed harvesting.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesRootSeed
Edible uses: Condiment, Tea
Other uses:Essential OilPest controlDynamic accumulatorFragrance
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
67 native · 58 introduced
Distribution
67 native · 58 introducedDistribution across4 continents· 67 native· 58 introduced
Europe24 regions
native (20)AlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyHungaryItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraine
introduced (4)CyprusIcelandIrelandUnited Kingdom
Asia13 regions
native (13)AfghanistanBangladeshChinaIndiaIranIraqKazakhstanMongoliaNepalPakistanTurkeyTurkmenistanUzbekistan
Americas1 region
introduced (1)Greenland
Africa4 regions
introduced (4)AlgeriaLibyaMoroccoTunisia
Broader regions
native:Altay, Amur, Baltic States, Buryatiya, Chita, Czechoslovakia, East Himalaya, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Primorye, Sakhalin, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tuva, West Himalaya, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia
introduced:Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Føroyar, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Labrador, Louisiana, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward I., Québec, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, South Dakota, South Georgia, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
Native to
XII
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