Lemon Grass

Lemon Grass is a great edible plant for the ornamental garden. Also known as Cymbopogon citratus, this densely growing, clumping plant is used in many different Southeast Asian cuisines. The lime-colored grassy foliage is broad and has an inviting citrus scent. Both the leaves and the woody stalks are edible with proper preparation and cooking. This culinary herb is also used to make teas and essential oils. 

Native to India and tropical regions of Asia, Lemon Grass grows as a perennial in Zones 8b through 11b. In Zones 8a it may die back to the ground and come back the following year, but in Zones 3-7 you can expect it to behave like an annual, going dormant and eventually dying back. In hot climates where it is commercially grown, Lemon Grass easily reaches 6 feet tall and produces inconspicuous flowers. Plants growing in pots or in the home garden usually reach 3 feet before the first frost in fall. 

As a foliage interest plant with culinary and visual interest, Lemon Grass is the perfect addition to every garden. The brilliantly colored foliage makes a great backdrop in perennial beds and mixed seasonal containers. Because of its upright growth habit, it looks nice in a mixed container as one of the thrillers.  Many people include it in their kitchen gardens.  Lemon Grass is also tolerant of black walnut trees and can be planted en masse around them. 

Lemon Grass Care

Lemon Grass loves long hot humid summers. Plant it out after the danger of the last frost has passed and it will mature in about a 100 days. It prefers full sun with protection from the midday sun and heat, which can burn the tender leaves. Lemon Grass grows best in rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.8 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). Amend heavy clay soils with aged manure, sand and peat moss to make this annual happy in your landscape. 

Lemon Grass is not as drought tolerant as other ornamental grasses and needs consistent watering all through the growing season. Provide supplemental water if there is less than an inch of natural precipitation a week. Feed with a heavy nitrogen fertilizer once a month if planted in the ground and once a week if in a container. 

Choose planters and pots with excellent drainage when growing Lemon Grass in a container. Select a pot that is 2-3 inches larger than the root ball, and use an all-purpose, peat-free potting mix. Do not use saucers under pots outdoors, as this causes the potting mix to stay saturated and can lead to root rot. 

Lemon Grass will grow inside, so you can have it to use in the winter, as it will not survive in zones colder than 9a. Divide large clumps of Lemon Grass before bringing it indoors. Water plants every 7-10 days through the winter, and make sure they receive 6 hours of direct sunlight or are growing under a dedicated grow light. Plants can be grown outside in the spring after temperatures reliably are above 50 degrees F (10 C). 

Remove leaves and stalks from the outside of the plant as they mature later in the season for cooking. Cut cleanly the stalks with a sterilized knife at the base of the plant, being careful not to disturb the root. Harvest the stalks when the bulbar part of the base has thickened but before the stalks toughen and dry out, losing their flavor. 

Lemon Grass Spacing

Lemon Grass is not a small plant. It can grow to be 4 feet high and 2-3 feet. Space plants 3 feet apart, center to center, when planting in a garden border. This promotes good airflow and allows the plant to show off its elegant fountain shape. Lemon Grass will grow slightly smaller in containers and grows to fit whatever pot it is in. To grow larger plants, size up the pot on a regular basis.  

Lemon Grass Information