This legendary aromatic grass transforms any garden with its tall, graceful clumps and intoxicating lemony fragrance. Standing 3-4 feet tall with arching silvery-green blades, lemongrass grows as a tender perennial in zones 5-11, though sources vary on exact hardiness with some reports ranging from zones 2-12. Ready to harvest in just 60-69 days from transplants, this essential Southeast Asian culinary herb brings both ornamental beauty and intense flavor to your growing space.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
240in H x 180in W
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Moderate
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What makes lemongrass truly special is its dual nature as both stunning ornamental grass and indispensable culinary treasure. The thick, bulbous stem bases hold the concentrated lemony essence prized in Thai, Vietnamese, and Southeast Asian cooking, while the graceful fountain of narrow leaves releases citrus fragrance with every breeze. This remarkably adaptable plant thrives in containers for easy overwintering, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, yet deters deer and rabbits. Though it rarely flowers in most climates, when it does bloom the insignificant flowers add another layer of pollinator appeal to this already exceptional herb.
The bulbous lower stems provide the intense lemony flavor essential for Southeast Asian curries, soups, and stir-fries, while the aromatic leaves make excellent herbal teas or can be chopped finely for sauces and desserts. Fresh stalks can be bruised and added to broths for flavoring then removed, or the tender inner portions can be minced for direct cooking. The plant also serves beautifully as an ornamental grass in borders or containers, and the extracted oils are valued for natural remedies, cosmetics, and aromatherapy applications.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start from transplants or root fresh stalks from grocery stores in water. Seeds are rarely available and difficult to germinate, requiring temperatures of 60°F and often showing irregular germination patterns. If seed is available, sow thickly as germination rates are typically poor.
Plant transplants outdoors only after soil temperatures reach at least 60°F and all danger of frost has passed. Harden off nursery plants before transplanting, spacing them 12 inches apart in warm, well-draining soil.
Direct sowing is not recommended as viable seed is extremely rare for this variety.
Harvest when stalks reach 12 inches tall with bases at least half an inch wide, typically by mid-summer in warm climates or later in cooler regions. Cut stalks at ground level, starting with the oldest, thickest stems to encourage new growth. The best flavor comes from the bottom 6 inches of the bulbous stem bases. Make your final harvest before temperatures drop below 40°F, as the plant cannot survive freezing weather.
Remove any flower stalks that appear to keep the plant's energy focused on leaf and stem production. In fall before the first frost, cut back the top foliage and harvest the thick stem bases, leaving enough roots and shoots for division or overwintering.
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“Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as West Indian lemongrass, has been cultivated for centuries across Southeast Asia where it remains absolutely essential to regional cuisines. This species differs from East Indian lemongrass (C. flexuosus), which is primarily grown for oils and tea rather than the bright, lemony culinary applications that make West Indian lemongrass so treasured. The plant spreads by shoots sprouting from the base and almost never produces viable seed, meaning it has been passed along through divisions and cuttings, creating a living link between today's gardeners and generations of Southeast Asian cooks who have relied on its distinctive flavor.”