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Lemon grass plant growing


Growing & Planting Lemongrass | General Planting & Growing Tips – Bonnie Plants

Discover how to grow lemongrass. Growing lemongrass in your own garden means having a fresh, delicious ingredient for a variety of Asian dishes.

Lemongrass is a tropical herb packed with strong citrus flavor. The lemon taste is prized in Asian cooking, as well as in teas, sauces, and soups. In the garden, lemongrass forms a tall, grassy clump 3 to 5 feet tall. Its appearance rivals that of many ornamental grasses and can easily fulfill a similar role in the landscape. For an easy path to successful growing, look for vigorous young lemongrass plants from Bonnie Plants®, the company that has been helping home gardeners succeed for over a century.

Quick Guide to Growing Lemongrass

Lemongrass grown in the vegetable garden, herbs have medicinal properties.

Soil, Planting, and Care

Lemongrass thrives in full sun, even in hot Southern locations. Give this herb rich, well-drained soil. To improve fertility and enhance the soil's ability to hold water, improve the soil by mixing in composted manure or aged compost-enriched Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™ All Purpose In-Ground Soil. If you're adding several lemongrass plants to planting beds, space plants 24 inches apart.

Plant lemongrass in a large pot that is at least 12 inches across, or use a 5-gallon bucket. Be sure to use a premium quality potting soil, such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™ All Purpose Container Mix, which contains aged compost and provides just the right organic nutrition to give lemongrass plants a strong start. Lemongrass grows tall, and pots can easily tip in windy weather, so place containers in a slightly protected location.

Provide a steady supply of moisture for best growth—don't let lemongrass roots dry out. In addition to starting with great soil, fertilize plants every couple of weeks during the growing season with a water-soluble plant food like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition. It improves the nutritional environment for your lemongrass plants by feeding the beneficial microbes in the soil as well as your plants, leading to strong, impressive growth.

In cold regions, overwinter lemongrass indoors by digging up a few stalks, trimming them down to just a few inches tall, and planting them in smaller pots. Place them in a bright, south-facing window. Keep soil barely moist, as plants grow very slowly over winter. Another option is to store a pot of lemongrass, cut down, in a cool, dark place like a basement. Water just a few times over winter to keep roots alive. In spring, bring the pot into a bright spot, and resume normal watering. Shift outdoors when temperatures are above 40°F.

Due to its tropical nature, lemongrass usually only survives winters in zones 8 and warmer. In other areas, try growing lemongrass as an annual in planting beds or tucked into pots. This citrus-flavored grass overwinters well in a dormant state in a cool, dark spot indoors, or you can grow it as an indoor herb through winter in colder zones.

Troubleshooting

Few pests bother lemongrass. This herb is actually sometimes used in concoctions to repel insects. Occasionally, though, spider mites will attack plants overwintering indoors.

As lemongrass grows, it forms a tight clump that's difficult to dig into. Use a sharp spade or hatchet to remove roots in early spring. Slice it like a pie, then pry slices of roots free. Keep an eye on plants in pots. With sufficient water, roots can quickly fill a too-small pot and burst it.

Harvest and Storage

Harvest lemongrass for its bulbous stem bases, rich with lemony flavor, or clip leaves for infusing tea and soup stock.

Start harvesting as soon as plants are 12 inches tall and stem bases are at least ½-inch thick. Cut stalks at ground level, or hand-pull entire stalks. You want to get the entire swollen base, which resembles a scallion or green onion. If a few roots come up with the stalk, don't worry: It won't harm the plant.

The edible portion of lemongrass is near the bottom of the stalk. Carefully cut off the grassy top part of the plant; use caution, as this can be razor-sharp at times. Leaves can be bundled and added to the liquid in a teapot or stock pot, then simmered to infuse lemon flavor into the brew.

Take the lemongrass base and peel the outer fibrous layer to expose the inner white, reedy part. To store, freeze this part either whole or chopped. To make slicing easier, first crush the stem base with the flat blade of a knife. The heart of the stalk (the part you want) has the consistency of soft butter and will then slice easily.

Uses

Lemongrass is best known for its use in Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Vietnamese. In the kitchen, use tender inner stalk bases in stir fries, salads, and sauces. To freeze lemongrass, store thinly sliced pieces in single layers in zipper-seal bags. To use, break off as much as you need for individual dishes. Or, freeze lemongrass minced or as a purée.

Leaves make a great addition to marinades and can be steeped in hot water for tea. After use, add leaves to your compost pile or puree them and scatter them in the grass along the edges of a patio or deck to help deter insects. To dry leaves, bundle them and hang them upside down in a dark place until dry. Store in tightly sealed jars. Dried lemongrass retains its flavor up to one year.

Avoid planting lemongrass in clay soil. This tropical plant craves moisture, but is quickly killed by heavy soil that makes water puddle.Before cooking with lemongrass, be sure to remove the tough outer layers to reach the tender layers inside.

Herbs LemonGrass

How to Grow and Care for Lemongrass

By

Jamie McIntosh

Jamie McIntosh

Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. She has more than 20 years of experience caring for flowers and plants. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 05/19/22

Reviewed by

Barbara Gillette

Reviewed by Barbara Gillette

Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

In This Article

For gardeners looking to get the most bang for their buck, certain edible landscaping plants, such as lemongrass, can fulfill two desires. This ornamental grass increases curb appeal and offers tasty fresh herbs for the kitchen. Fast-growing lemongrass is as handsome waving in the summer breeze as it is appetizing in your soups, stir-fries, and teas. Native to Sri Lanka and India, just like the crossandra, lemongrass is perennial in zones 10 and 11 but is often grown as an annual in other regions. The long, slender gray-green foliage adds gorgeous color in autumn gardens when it turns burgundy and red.

Lemongrass is best planted from potted nursery starts in spring, after all danger of frost has passed. Be aware that this plant contains cyanogenic glycosides and other oils that are mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Click Play to Learn How to Grow and Care for Lemongrass

Common Name Lemongrass
Botanical Name Cymbopogon citratus
Family Poaceae
Plant Type Perennial, annual, herb
Mature Size 2-4 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide
Sun Exposure Full
Soil Type Loamy
Soil pH Neutral
Hardiness Zones 10-11 (USDA)
Native Areas Asia
Toxicity Toxic to pets

Lemongrass Care

Lemongrass grows with abundance in areas where conditions mimic the warm and humid habitat of its native region. The plant likes lots of heat, light, and moisture: Provide this, and your lemongrass will grow and multiply quickly.

Lemongrass is fragrant and also known as a pest repellent. The smell of the plant's oil seems to deter unwanted insects, such as mosquitos.

​The Spruce / Letícia Almeida ​The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

​The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

Philippe Gerber / Getty Images

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Manuel Sulzer / Getty Images

Light

Lemongrass grows best in full sun, even in hot climates. At least six hours of direct sun per day will meet the plants' energy needs. Plants growing in shade will be sparse and may attract pests.

Soil

Lemongrass plants prefer rich, loamy soil. You can create this ideal soil by adding several different soil amendments: compost, manure, and leaf mold are all enrichments you can add at planting time.

Water

Lemongrass prefers moist soil for best plant growth. The standard "1 inch per week" favored by many garden plants will allow lemongrass to thrive, but it can get by on considerably less. Once established, it has a good tolerance for drought. A 3-inch layer of mulch can help conserve soil moisture and will enrich the soil as it breaks down.

Temperature and Humidity

Lemongrass thrives in hot, steamy climates. The time for growing lemongrass outdoors is similar to the timing for tomato planting—when night temperatures are in the 50s, it's time to plant. Lemongrass is very frost sensitive, so if you plan to overwinter the plant indoors in pots, bring it inside before temperatures drop into the 40s.

Fertilizer

As a grassy plant, lemongrass needs a nitrogen-rich fertilizer for its best growth. You can use a slow-release 6-4-0 fertilizer that will feed throughout the growing season. You can also water with manure tea, which will add trace nutrients.

Types of Lemongrass

There are no named cultivars of lemongrass, but another species in the Cymbopogon genus is worth not—Cymbopogon nardus, also known as citronella grass. This plant is not edible, but it has a pungent but pleasant odor that can be effective as an insect deterrent when grown in pots on patios or decks.

Pruning

Lemongrass plants that live for more than one season benefit from an annual haircut to tidy up plants and remove dead foliage. The plant will naturally die back for the winter, when you should leave the browning leaves alone to protect it from frost. Shear the ornamental grass to about 6 inches high at the end of winter, when plants are in their resting phase. Lemongrass plants will rebound quickly and send up new shoots when warm weather returns.

Propagating Lemongrass

Lemongrass grows in clumps that make it very easy to propagate by division. Here's how:

  1. Dig up the clump (or remove the entire root ball from its pot).
  2. Divide the clump into pieces, using a spade or garden trowel. Each leaf fan will be attached to a narrow bulb-like base with roots attached, and each one of these has the potential to become a new clump. It's up to you how large you want each division to be, but clumps containing at least five or six bulbs will look more substantial than a single bulb.
  3. Replant the divisions immediately in new pots or selected garden locations. Water thoroughly upon planting, then daily while the divisions are becoming established.

How to Grow Lemongrass From Seed

Lemongrass is also easy to start from seed, though it can be hard to find the seeds offered for sale. Even online retailers usually ship small living plants. But if you do find seeds, they are easy to germinate in warm, moist soil.

Press the seeds lightly into a sterile potting mix, and keep moist until germination, which occurs usually within about 10 to 14 days. When plants are about 3 inches tall, thin them to a foot apart. Keep indoor pots in a sunny spot.

Potting and Repotting Lemongrass

Choose a large container for growing your lemongrass, at least 12 inches in diameter. This is both to accommodate a healthy root system and to prevent top-heavy plants from tipping over. In cold climates, you can grow a single root division in a small container in a sunny windowsill to keep the plant going for next season's harvest.

Use high-quality commercial potting soil for potting up a lemongrass plant. Choosing a potting soil premixed with a time-released fertilizer can save you an extra step in feeding your plants. If your lemongrass plant grows in the same container year after year, it's best to repot in the spring to replenish the soil.

Overwintering

In regions where lemongrass is perennial (zones 10 and 11) it often remains evergreen year-round. Gardeners in zones 8 and 9 may find that it dies back to the ground in winter, then returns the following spring. In colder regions, it's possible to dig up clumps and plant them in containers to grow indoors in a bright, sunny location for the winter.

Common Plant Diseases

In some areas, rust fungus can affect lemongrass plants. Symptoms include brown spots or streaks on leaves, leading to plant death. Prevent rust by watering plants at the soil level, not from above the leaves.

Common Problems With Lemongrass

The most common complaint with lemongrass is that it easily dries out, especially when grown in pots indoors. While outdoor garden plants can be fairly drought-tolerant when well established, this is not the case with potted plants, especially in dry indoor winter conditions. Water your potted lemongrass plants regularly to keep them alive.

FAQ

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Cymbopogon citratus. North Carolina State Extension.

  2. Lemongrass, Cymbopogon Spp.  University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.

  3. Cymbopogon Citratus. Missouri Botanical Garden.

  4. Cymbopogon Citratus. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Cultivation of lemongrass

Lemongrass

Otherwise:

Lemongrass, Lemon grass, East Indian lemongrass, Malabar grass, Cochin grass, Cymbopogon sinuta

Lemongrass © Photo: Elena Malankina

Cymbopogon flexuosus
Family Cereals (Gramineae)

0003

Botanical portrait

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) is a fast growing plant that can reach a height of 180 cm in tropical climates and grows best in colder regions where it grows up to 1 m. annual daily temperatures are in the range of +22…+30°C. The leaves are light green, long, smooth, narrow, sharp (they can easily be cut like sedge leaves). It grows in a bunch, does not spread. It blooms, but her flowers are invisible against the background of a huge bunch of leaves. The leaves and stems have a pleasant citrus aroma. Outside the tropical zone, the plant is grown in gardens, pots and greenhouses as an ornamental plant.

Cultivation of lemongrass

In our climate, cultivation of lemongrass is possible mainly through seedlings.

Seeding seed . Seeds are sown in moist nutrient soil to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm. The container with planted seeds is covered with a transparent film and left in a room with a temperature above +20°C. Since seedlings need a lot of sunlight, seedlings are best kept on a south window. Landing in open ground usually occurs in late May - early June. Before planting, seedlings must be put out for a day on the street for several days, and brought into the house in the evening. Then leave seedling boxes with lemongrass outside for several days and at night. And only after such acclimatization, seedlings can be planted in a permanent place in open ground.

Outdoor cultivation of this plant in our country is possible only as an annual crop. The plant is very afraid of low temperatures and dies already at a temperature of + 5 ° C.

As a perennial, lemon grass can only be grown in containers or boxes. In the summer, such a container can be easily buried in the ground or simply placed next to a resting place in the garden. Its lemon scent will not only flavor the air, but also protect you from mosquitoes.

Landing place . Lemon grass loves the sun, although it can grow in areas with light shade. A place in the garden for this plant is better to find a sunny, closed from the north winds.

Soil . Soils are preferred light, well-drained, better - sandy, with a slightly acidic pH. Plants growing in sandy soils have a higher leaf yield and a higher citral content. Lemongrass grows well in swampy areas. The soil should be nutritious and constantly moist.

Watering . To provide the roots with the constant moisture they need, it is necessary to mulch the soil under the plant with a layer of mulch of at least 8-10 cm. Watering is necessary abundant, preferably with soft rain water or warm, settled tap water.

Harvest . Leaves and stems are cut as needed. For drying, cut lemongrass leaves are cut into small pieces and laid out under a canopy. Leaves should be dried as soon as possible within 24 hours, a conventional dryer can be used for this. A long period of drying, for example in the sun, causes the leaves to lose color and the quality of the aroma is reduced. Dried lemongrass should be stored in airtight containers, preferably in glass jars.

Wintering . With the end of the warm season, the container of lemongrass is returned to the room. Even if the plant grew in open ground, if desired, it can be easily transplanted into a pot and also brought into the room, where it will continue to delight with its citrus aroma. This option will allow you to always have on hand and seasoning, and tea, and medicine. And the citrus aroma of lemongrass not only refreshes, but also purifies the air in the room.


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Lemongrass: cultivation and care

Lemongrass: cultivation and care

12/16/2016

Lemongrass is a perennial herb that is one of the most popular spices among Asian cooks. It has an unusual lemon-ginger and citrus aroma and has received many names: lemongrass, shuttle beard, cymbopogon, lemongrass.

What lemongrass looks like

Lemongrass has a strong root system, thanks to which it firmly “clings” to the ground. The leaves of this plant acquire a light green color with growth and are distinguished by an elongated shape. Lemongrass can grow up to 2 meters in hot climates and up to 1 meter in cool climates. Delicate lemon aroma and the same taste are not tolerated by mosquitoes and other insects, which allows its practical properties.

Lemongrass: growing at home

Most often, lemongrass is grown in a pot. Such a houseplant adapts well to the new environment and fills the room with a light lemon scent. Lemongrass can also be grown outdoors, but since this plant does not like the cold, it will have to be transplanted into a container for the winter and brought into the house.

Lemongrass does not spread over large areas. A dense bunch grows very slowly in breadth, which allows you to plant other plants nearby. Lemongrass should be planted in open ground at the beginning of summer, but not earlier than June 5th. With a decrease in temperature (approximately mid-August), it is worth starting to transplant it into containers or pots and transfer them to the house, to the veranda or terrace. To grow well indoors, lemongrass must be provided with constant light.

Reproduction

There are three ways to propagate lemongrass: small bulbs, cuttings, or seeds. Most often resort to the latter. To do this, lemongrass seeds need to be wrapped in a damp cloth, wrapped in plastic and left in a warm place for 12 hours. After they must be dried and sown on seedlings. The growth of each seed will be accelerated if planted in a separate container. The recommended depth is 0.5-1 cm. After that, they should be placed on a well-lit window sill. It is advisable to sow lemongrass for seedlings in mid-March. After the sprouts have reached 15-20 cm, they can be planted in separate large pots.

Outdoor planting

Picky, light and heat-loving - this is how you can describe lemongrass. At home, growing such a plant is not difficult, but at the same time you need to constantly look after it. To begin with, the plant is prepared for a change of environment. To do this, you need to periodically put it on the balcony, later - on the street. When landing in open ground, it is worth choosing a place that is free from direct sunlight. Large shrubs or openwork shade trees are well suited. It is advisable to fertilize the soil before planting, as lemongrass quickly absorbs all the nutrients thanks to the large horse system. Lemongrass soil likes light, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil. At the same time, the soil must be nutritious and constantly moist, to ensure which it is worth mulching the soil before planting.

Lemon grass care

It is better to water lemongrass with warm settled water, and if possible, rain. Water can not be spared, as the roots quickly absorb it and dry the soil. Trimming the lemongrass is optional. This is done more for a better aesthetic appearance. In winter, lemongrass must be brought indoors. The plant from this does not fade and does not lose color, but continues to grow magnificently. But if you deprive lemongrass of good lighting, this will affect both its appearance and growth rate.

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