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How to Grow Lemongrass: The Complete Plant Guide

Lemongrass plant
Photo Credit
Sarangib
Botanical Name
Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon citratus
Plant Type
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Hardiness Zone
9
10
11

Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Lemongrass

Samantha Johnson
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At first glance, lemongrass might look like an ordinary clump of grass, but there’s oh-so-much more. This versatile herb has a lovely lemony scent and adds a unique citrusy-ginger flavor to soups, sauces, and teas. Further, it supports healthy digestion and calms nerves. Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest lemongrass.

About Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a tall, stalky herb in the genus Cymbopogon. Two commonly grown species are Cymbopogon flexuosus  (East-Indian lemongrass) and Cymbopogon citratus (West-Indian lemongrass). 

While lemongrass can grow into a perennial in tropical climates (and U.S. Zones 9 and up), it’s grown as an annual herb in Zones 8 and colder. The herb grows clump-like with 1-inch strap-like leaves that gracefully arch. The warmer the climate, the taller it grows, often 2 to 3 feet in height. To keep this plant year-round, you must bring it indoors. 

We recommend starting lemongrass as a small transplant from your garden nursery. This herb is equally at home in the garden or kept indoors in a (large) container. The advantage to container life is that you can protect it from cold temperatures and prolong its life. 

Lemongrass is popular in Thai and Asian sauces, curries, soups, and chicken dishes. Its flavor is lemony and sweet with a hint of ginger—light, refreshing, and not as bitter as lemon rind. Lemongrass oil is often used in fragrant perfumes, soaps, and even cleansers, thanks to its lemony fragrance and antiseptic benefits. 

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Planting

Plan on providing lemongrass with 6 to 8 hours of full sun. The plant also thrives in well-draining soil; if your soil is poor, add organic compost for fertility. Aim for a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0, although some variance is acceptable. Ensure you have space for a plant that reaches 3 to 5 feet tall. Lemongrass does well in a container and will easily grow inside your home if you can provide enough hours of sunlight.

When to Plant

  • When planting outdoors, wait until after your area’s last frost date in the spring before planting. (See the Almanac’s Frost Calculator.)
  • If cultivating lemongrass in a container indoors, you don’t need to concern yourself with the outdoor weather conditions. You can plant lemongrass indoors at your convenience.

How to Plant

  • Most gardeners buy a small starter plant at the nursery. It isn’t easy to grow by seed nor save seed. If you do buy seed, plant them to a depth of 1/8 to ÂĽ inch. In areas with shorter growing seasons, you can start seeds indoors a few weeks before your last frost.
  • That said, lemongrass is very easy to propagate from an established plant (maybe a friend has one?). Take a few stalks in late fall and place the root ends of the cuttings in water to encourage root production. Pot them up and keep them on the kitchen windowsill to transplant into the soil in the spring.
  • Lemongrass is also easy to propagate by division (like strawberries). Again, you’ll need access to a mature lemongrass plant, which you’ll then divide. Simply split the plant and roots into small sections, then replant.

Seedling stem cuttings, or divisions, should be planted with an eye toward the plant’s eventual size. Lemongrass can easily reach 3 feet wide, so space with that in mind. 

Lemongrass stalks in a bottle
Lemongrass can be propagated from stem cuttings. They will begin producing roots after a few days in water. Credit: Photo_lensa

Growing

Note: Lemongrass grows slowly until summer’s heat arrives, and then grows quickly. So do not be concerned if it’s a slow starter.

  • It LOVES water and humidity, so be sure to water regularly.
  • Keep the soil moist but not soggy around your lemongrass. (It’s a delicate balance, but you can achieve it!)
  • If you keep your lemongrass indoors, you may find your home’s air too dry in winter to thrive; this can be remedied with a humidifier.
  • Lemongrass requires nitrogen for healthy leaves. During the summer months, keep your lemongrass supplied with a water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer or some good old compost tea if you have access.
  • The rapid growth and size of lemongrass help prevent weeds—a nice side benefit.
  • Soil pH isn’t a big concern with lemongrass, as it can tolerate some variance on either side of neutral.
  • You do want to avoid frost. Some plants—spinach, kale, peas—can handle or even enjoy a bit of a cold snap, but lemongrass isn’t one of them.
  • It’s possible to grow your lemongrass outdoors during the summer and then transplant it into a pot to enjoy indoors in winter.
  • Repot as needed if your indoor plant outgrows its container. 
Varieties

There are more than fifty Cymbopogon family members, but just two are used as lemongrass, according to the University of Wisconsin Extension. These two main types are:

  • C. flexuosus, which is known as East-Indian lemongrass, cochin, or Malabar grass. It can be used for cooking, but C. Citratus is more popular for culinary use.
  • C. citratus, known as West-Indian lemongrass, is more commonly used for cooking. 

 

 

 

Harvesting

One of the best things about herbs is that they are enjoyable on multiple levels. They add beauty to your garden, have wonderful scents (lemongrass has a citrus-like fragrance), are edible, and may have cosmetic or medicinal uses. Lemongrass is no exception.

  • When your lemongrass reaches about 12 to 18 inches tall, it should be ready for harvesting if you choose.
  • The base of the stalk is where all the flavor is, and it should be about ½ inch thick before harvesting.
  • The University of Wisconsin Extension recommends choosing an outer stem, pushing it to the side, and twisting it off or cutting it at the base.
  • Peel away the outer layer (sort of like an onion) and discard the leaves.
  • Lemongrass has plenty of culinary uses, mainly as a citrusy flavoring agent for soups, curries, and Asian cuisine.
  • Some people make tea using bits of lemongrass leaves.
  • For craft enthusiasts, the lovely scent of lemongrass makes a great addition to homemade soaps or candles. You can even braid the stalks and leaves together to make little “tea wreaths” for gifts.
  • Remember: Frosts will kill this tender herb, so harvest to dig it up before nighttime temperatures reach freezing if you wish to bring it indoors.
harvested lemongrass stalks
Lemongrass is an important element in Asian cuisine and used for medicinal purposes. Credit: R_yuliana
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Pests/Diseases

Generally speaking, lemongrass grown outdoors doesn’t have any pest issues at all. Just plant and enjoy!

  • Rust can be an issue, but C. flexuosus is said to have some resistance, more than C. Citratus according to the Missouri Botanical Garden.
  • Lemongrass plants kept indoors can sometimes be bothered by spider mites. 

Wit and Wisdom

  • Because lemongrass contains citronella oil, it’s said to offer some mosquito-repelling properties, although just having the plant in your garden may not provide much protection.
  • Lemongrass has a long history as a medicinal herb in Asian culture.
  • According to WebMD, lemongrass has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, which is pretty amazing for an herb, wouldn’t you say?
  • The blades of lemongrass are quite sharp. It’s highly recommended that you wear gloves when trimming or handling your plant because you can accidentally cut your skin on lemongrass leaves. (In fact, another variety, C. refractus, is native to Australia and is known as “barbed wire grass.” Unsurprisingly, it isn’t edible.) 

Cooking Notes

Lemongrass tea is often used to aid sleep and is known to lower blood pressure. 

  • To make lemongrass tea, add a few smashed stalks and leaves to a pot of water and simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 10 more minutes with the lid on. Remove or strain the lemongrass, and drink!

Add lemongrass when cooking sauces, stews, curries, and other dishes.

  • You can simply smash up the stalk and add it to rice when boiling it or to various sauces. You have to really smash it up to release the flavor. Then, fish out the stalks before you serve the dish.
  • However, you will also find dishes that include lemongrass; usually, you’ll trim the stalk’s outer layer, cut off the root, and grate the stalk finely. Just Google “lemongrass chicken” or another dish!
  • Note: The herb is not recommended for pregnant women.
Herbs
About The Author

Samantha Johnson

Samantha Johnson is an award-winning author and gardening expert with over 20 years of experience cultivating heirloom vegetables and sharing her passion for rural living. Read More from Samantha Johnson
 

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Comments

evie (not verified)

2 weeks 5 days ago

hi just read your article about lemon grass, i was wondering if theres an obvious visual between the 2? I have one in a pot for a few yrs but will be putting in ground this yr cause my friend has one n hers is fluffy while mine looks like is molting lol.when i read about the stalks i didnt even know that, so i had to double check mine cause always thought it was just blade leaves from the bottom. so YEA mine has supper skinny little ones more water needed too. yea so just wanna know if thers a difference between the 2 so if my friend has a different one ill be getting some from her thnk you evie