Plant that looks like lemongrass

How to Grow and Care for Lemongrass

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.

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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:

Dig up the clump (or remove the entire root ball from its pot).
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.
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

Lemongrass is very easy to grow and maintain both indoors and outdoors.
It can grow relatively fast indoors and outdoors (in the right environments), potentially reaching several feet tall in one season.
Lemongrass and lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) are often confused, and will both make pleasing cups of tea. But lemongrass loves moisture and looks grassy, while lemon verbena prefers drier conditions and looks different with elongated leaves and small, edible white flowers.
Harvesting lemongrass differs from pruning. As a fast-growing plant, lemongrass can withstand harvesting when plants are young, and there won't be any adverse effects on its growth. Although the green leafy portions of the plant are too tough to eat, you can snip them for steeping in tea or broth. The juicy stalks are edible when mashed or minced, adding a fragrant lemon note to dishes. Use a hand trowel to remove individual stalks, roots and all, from the clump. Remove the tough outer leaves and prepare the tender white stalks by chopping, or freeze whole stalk pieces for later use.

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.

Cymbopogon citratus. North Carolina State Extension.
Lemongrass, Cymbopogon Spp. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.
Cymbopogon Citratus. Missouri Botanical Garden.
Cymbopogon Citratus. Missouri Botanical Garden.

How To Grow and Care For Lemon Grass Plants

Lemon grass plants, Citronella Grass, fever grass or Cymbopogon citratus grows largely in clumps. But, what is lemon grass? Is lemongrass a perennial? Yes, it is a perennial-type grass. What does lemongrass look like? The grass has long, thin, flat greenish-grey tinged reeds, occasionally throwing off curious, butterfly-like flowers.

In this article, we will share details on how to grow and care for lemon grass plants.

PinConsider growing lemongrass in pots and beds as a mosquito repellant plant.

The lemongrass cane-like stems base may carry a reddish base. Cymbopogon nardus a Southeast Asia native, long grown for commercial use in some countries like Java, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka.

With an exquisite fresh, lemony fragrance that intensifies when you crush or stroke the leaves. For optimum enjoyment try planting the grass strategically in the garden, along walkways, patios, and porches.

It also makes an excellent companion to other plants as its vertical form and graceful leaves provide a pleasant contrast to rounded flowers and shrubs.

Lemon Grass Uses

The citronella grass has some very useful applications, especially when extracted into an essential oil. The manufactured oil finds its way into many different purposes, from perfume to essential oils used in aromatherapy.

The most popular lemongrass plant uses come from its use in soaps, sprays, lemon balm, dog collars, candles and everything in between as an effective insect repellent against annoying pests like mosquitoes.

The important chemical agents within the citronella, namely Citronellol and Geraniol, are used in products as excellent antiseptics.

Besides cleaning and keeping away pests, the lemongrass adds flavoring for culinary purposes or as a lemony tea.
In fact, you’ll find the grass used in many common foods and beverages!
In its natural, growing form, gardeners plant the grass to discourage garden pests such as whitefly.
Studies show the oil as a control against stable flies, head lice, and body lice.
Garden enthusiasts integrate the lemony grass plants alongside their vegetables to enjoy a reduced pest population.
Set up a physical barrier (planting in pots) to keep the fast-growing grass from overgrowing other plants.

Planting Lemongrass As A Mosquito Repellant Plant

Citronella spoils the hiding places of mosquitoes in your garden.

Appropriately nicknamed “Mosquito Plant”, citronella produces little to no effect on mosquito control by themselves, but hiding within their essence lies the key to ridding your home of these pesky flying insects.

This plant remains as an ornamental grass until you extract the leaves for the oil.

The Cymbopogon nardus do not naturally release the oil essence into the air; they need a human touch for this to happen.

Research shows the oil extracted from this plant as very, very effective in warding off most mosquito types, including the deadly Aedes aegypti, carrier of the dreaded dengue fever.

Crushing the leaves in your hand will produce the oil from the Citronella.

This oil can be readily applied to you or your children’s skin when needed to keep off insects as they play outside.

Should you want to put the citronella oil on your clothes or in living spaces later, combine the Citronella essential oil and an alcohol base.

However, the most effective application method is fresh ground up leaves.

In case of suspected allergies, it is recommended you try out a small amount on your inner forearm for a few days. If there’s no redness or itching, it’s probably safe for regular use.

Interested growers should look for the true varieties of lemongrass. Cymbopogon winterianus, Cymbopogon Flexuosus and Cymbopogon nardus should be the ones on your list.

Other varieties may be labeled as “Citronella Scented”, but they lack the repelling qualities of the true Citronella plant.

How To Care For and Grow Lemongrass Plants

The recommended area for Cymbopogon nardus is hardiness zones 10 – 12 (USDA Zone). Plant your lemon grass in any “no-frost” climate. Like most grass species, it thrives on good watering and partial to full sunlight.

If you’re living in a colder region, grow lemon grass in pots, and bring them inside during the winter season.

Lemon Grass Plant Soil Requirements

As for the soil requirements, choose a well-drained soil (most any bagged soil mix) that will stay moist.

A loamy soil ensures your citronella grass of getting what it needs. Soil that dry’s out will not work for growing a healthy Citronella plant!

Lighting – Best In Full Sun

Citronella does well with a full day of sun, but a sunny spot with partial shade also does wonders for them.

Give them 6-8 hours of sun for optimal exposure. Place them beside a patio or under the protection of a tall tree.

If the lemon grass plant starts looking dry and withered, move them to a more shaded location, to give them the appropriate sunlight hours during the day.

Watering & Fertilizing Of Lemon Grass

Do not allow citronella grass to dry out. Watering requirements depend on where the plant’s location – full sunlight and no shade means the grass will dry out quickly.

Fertilize lemongrass every couple weeks during the growing season every couple of weeks with a liquid 20-20-20 plant fertilizer or liquid fish fertilizer for plants.

Lemon Grass Propagation

Propagate citronella by planting seed or by division. Apart from seeds, you can propagate many types of lemongrass plants using the stalks.

You just need to cut the foliage only leaving one inch above the stem.
Place it in a jar of water and let them stay there in a few weeks.
Regularly change the water and see the roots grow.
Once they reached a sizable length, transfer them to the soil.

Most grasses spread by runners, not the case with Citronella. The clump size grows as they mature, but it’s hardly considered invasive.

Start propagation in early spring by splitting large clumps into smaller clusters and replant them in other spots or containers.

How Fast Does Lemongrass grow?

Allow plants to become established before wintertime to ensure survival and a healthy growth in the next spring season.

Keep in mind, as a grass, it can quickly crowd out other adjacent plants especially if planted at a landscape level. It’s best to plant Citronella lemon grass in an enclosed area or planter.

Citronella is a great grass for use in the garden. Learning how to grow and care for lemon grass plants brings a fresh lemony fragrance to the garden.

TOP 10 easily available alternatives to lemongrass to replace without loss of taste list

You are here » Note to the hostess » 10 best substitutes for lemongrass

A plant that is very common in tropical islands and commonly used in South Asian cuisine is lemongrass. He has many fans around the world. Lemongrass has a citrus flavor that is a great addition to Asian cuisines. It has a very specific blend of herbal and lemon flavors that is hard to replace. It is commonly used in dishes such as stir-fries, soups, other dishes, and tea.

Lemongrass has many health benefits, so it is used as a natural diuretic and contains many beneficial nutrients and essential minerals.

However, as we mentioned, lemongrass has a unique flavor that is hard to replace, so if you don't have it on hand, is there a way to substitute it?

Yes. In fact, lemongrass can be substituted regardless of its unique flavor. There are 10 other ingredients that can give very similar results in your cooking. Sometimes, it can be difficult to imitate the smell and taste of lemongrass, but these ingredients will help you keep your dish fresh.

You can use dried lemongrass, lemon zest, kaffir lime leaves, lemon balm, arugula and lemon zest, lemon juice, coriander and ginger, and other substitutes for lemongrass. So be sure to research each product carefully, read how to use them, and find the most suitable replacement for your recipe.

Lemongrass is a plant from which leaves and oils are used. In fact, lemongrass is used not only in cooking, but also in medicine. It has its own taste, although people tend to confuse it with the taste of lemon. It has a combination of citrus and herbal flavors that are not very overpowering.

If you're having trouble finding lemongrass, don't worry, there are perfect solutions for you. In the list below you will find the best substitutes that will help you in your cooking and save you time and effort.

Dried Lemongrass

As usual, if the herb has a dried version and a fresh version, then you use the regular substitute. Lemongrass has this advantage, so if you don't have fresh, you can always use dried lemongrass. They are actually very similar. If you run out of fresh, you can always use the dried version and vice versa. You should know and always keep in mind that dried has a stronger flavor.
This means that the mixture of herbs and citrus can be more prominent in your dishes. Try not to abuse and add the required amount when cooking. Use dried lemongrass in recipes with meats, sauces, or some poultry dishes.
Lemon zest

An easy substitute for lemongrass is lemon zest. It's easy to find and easy to use. All you need is a lemon. You can always find it at your local store and use it in most recipes that call for lemongrass.
Even though you may not have the herbal taste, lemon zest goes great with the other ingredients. You can add some other ingredient along with the lemon zest to completely mimic the flavor. When cooking, use a 1:1 ratio, put a teaspoon of zest on each leaf, or adapt to your taste.
Kaffir Lime Leaves

Something that could serve you well in your recipes as a substitute for lemongrass is the use of kaffir lime leaves. It has a citrus aroma and a fresh lime taste. It tastes very close to lemongrass and will mix with other ingredients in your recipe.
Be sure to use fresh leaves and also remove them before use as they are not edible. They will give your dish a nice fresh flavor. Use them to make curries or soups and add equal amounts or adapt to your liking.
Lemon Balm

Another herb that makes a great mint-flavored substitute for lemongrass is lemon balm. You can easily cut the leaves from which you will get a stronger flavor with citrus elements.
You can use three lemon balm leaves to replace one lemongrass stalk. You can make lemon balm pesto, or use it in place of lemongrass in most recipes.
Arugula and Lemon Peel

Arugula and Lemon Peel is the perfect combination to replace lemongrass in your kitchen. Using arugula will add an extra layer of spiciness, and when mixed with lemon zest, you'll have the perfect blend for your recipe.
This will give you the same herbal flavors and citrus aroma of lemongrass. When making a substitution in your recipe, use one leaf of arugula leaves and a teaspoon of lemon zest for one stem of fresh lemongrass.
Lemongrass paste

Kreung or also known as Lemongrass paste comes from Cambodia. Thus, it is an ideal replacement for lemongrass. You can use a tablespoon of krang instead of fresh lemongrass in cooking.
Keep in mind that the paste has a stronger flavor, so don't overdo it. You can add it to soups, stews, or any other savory dish that calls for lemongrass.
Lemon juice

Lemongrass can be easily replaced with lemon, i.e. lemon juice. We all have lemons in our fridge most of the time, so when you don't have lemongrass on hand, lemon juice is a suitable substitute.
Lemon will give your dish a citrusy taste and traces of sourness. Use in small amounts or adapt to your taste as it may be more acidic than you think.
Coriander and ginger

Another useful combination is ginger and coriander. This combination is great for replacing lemongrass in your cooking. Just use 2 teaspoons of coriander and 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger root to replace the lemongrass stem. This is how you imitate the taste and aroma of lemongrass.
You will get a combination of sweet and tangy notes very similar to lemongrass. Use in soups, broths or any other recipe.
Lemon verbena

A very fragrant herb, almost the same as lemongrass, is lemon verbena. It is a very suitable substitute in your cooking and in almost every recipe that calls for lemongrass.
Can imitate the citrus taste of lemongrass, as well as traces of herbs that can be added to dishes. Also, when substituting, be sure to use the right amount to get the perfect flavor combination you're looking for. You can easily cut the leaves and don't forget to remove them before drinking.
Canned Lemon

Last but not least on our list of substitutes is canned lemon. Well, this is something that can also replace lemongrass in most recipes.
In fact, almost every lemon-based product can be a substitute because of the similar taste. By using canned lemon, you will add citrus and herb flavor without it overpowering the other ingredients, so there is nothing to worry about.

Add half a teaspoon of canned lemon instead of fresh lemongrass. You can make many recipes that call for lemongrass and replace it with canned lemon.

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"Good manners - before serving, remove the stems of lemongrass from the dish" - Weekend Ukraine - Kommersant

Lemongrass is most often called lemongrass, less often - cymbopogon or lemongrass. You can also find other names such as lemongrass, lemongrass or shuttle beard. Lemongrass is grown in many Asian countries, but most often it is dealt with in Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. It is widely used in Caribbean cuisine. The plant is added to tea, spice mixtures and the famous tom yum soup is cooked with it. Lemongrass goes well with aromatic herbs, hot peppers and garlic. It decorates meat and fish dishes and gives a refreshing effect to sorbets. About Lemongrass Sebastian Kellerhoff , Executive Chef of the Hyatt Regency Kyiv hotel, told Marina Gladka .

Is lemongrass related to lemon?

- These are two completely different cultures. Often there is confusion, many are confused by the name. Sometimes lemongrass is mistaken for lemon balm, because in literal translation from English the name sounds like "lemon grass". You can, for example, hear a version about various varieties of lemon that look like grass, and even a branchy tree with unusual leaves, but these are all delusions. Everything is put in its place by the Latin name of the plant - Cymbopogon citratus, or lemongrass. If we look in the encyclopedia, we will see the following description: Lemongrass is a herbaceous perennial plant of the grass family with long, tall, reed-like leaves and a lemon aroma. Although lemongrass has a white bulb and a long green stem, it can easily be mistaken for sedge, young bamboo, or even dracaena.

— Are all parts of the plant edible?

- A small white onion is used as a spice - added to goulash and soups. The stalk is thinly sliced into salads, or almost transparent strips are separated from the stalk and covered with fish and meat, which are then grilled. Most often we find sliced \u200b\u200blemongrass sticks, reminiscent of penne in shape, in Asian soups. In many cultures, it is considered good manners to remove the lemongrass stalks from the dish before serving.

Does Lemongrass tolerate heat treatment well?

— Despite its deceptive subtlety, lemongrass is a fairly strong plant, it tolerates heat well, while retaining its beneficial qualities and revealing its luxurious aromatic bouquet. Indians and Africans, for example, are very fond of brewing tea with lemongrass and ginger - an amazing drink that perfectly copes with the first symptoms of a cold and restores strength. Thais cook broths with it and their famous soups - tom kha and tom yam. Quite often, fish wrapped in a banana leaf is baked with lemongrass. A green envelope is placed on the grill, inside the leaf there is a real bath - the fish lets out juice, the lemongrass is fragrant, and as a result, a delicate dish saturated with a grassy-lemon smell is obtained.

— How else is this plant used?

- It looks like grass, but with a strong, tight stem that is unpleasant to gnaw, but its core is soft. The stem is used as a skewer for meat or fish. It turns out quite a beautiful dish in its naturalness. You can make an appetizer that looks like a match or a torch - so that the meat marinated in spices is only at one end, and most of the stem remains free. In this case, you can pick up the stalk of lemongrass and fry the meat yourself over the fire, enjoying the aroma of lemongrass that opens when heated.

— Can lemongrass be dried?

- Theoretically, it can be dried and even frozen, but it is better to use it fresh. The most valuable thing in lemongrass is essential oils, and when frozen and dried, most of the valuable aroma disappears. Lemongrass keeps well for up to two weeks, but only fresh stems should be used to make sorbets, ice cream, and soups. The ideal option is to knead the stem to a mushy state, this is how the aromatic pattern is best revealed. At the same time, citral is released - the main component of lemongrass, a viscous juice with a strong citrus smell. It makes the dish interesting.

- Is lemongrass a capricious plant?

— No, it is an undemanding herb. One has only to stick a piece of the cut stem into the ground, as it is immediately accepted and after a while grows into a tall lush bush. There is such an amazing feature of plants that are strategically important for life - they grow well, give generous harvests and do not harm.