Lemongrass - Aromatic Edible Ornamental

Natural Mosquito Repellent!

Lot of 4 Lemongrass Plants


Cymbopogon citratus

Common Names: Lemongrass, Oil Grass Family: Poaceae/Gramineae (grass Family)

Lemongrass is a versatile and very easy to grow plant. It's a tropical grass that grows in dense clumps which can grow to 6 ft (1.8 m) in height and about 4 ft (1.2 m) in width. The straplike leaves are 0.5-1 in (1.3-2.5 cm) wide, about 3 ft (0.9 m) long, and have gracefully drooping tips. The evergreen leaves are bright bluish-green and release a citrus aroma when crushed. It is the leaves that are used as flavoring and in herbal medicine, and they are a natural mosquito repellent. They are steam distilled to extract lemongrass oil, an old standby in the perfumer's palette of scents, which has been used for centuries. Widely used in Thai cuisine, this fragrant grass is also popular in the kitchen where it can be used in teas, beverages, and Eastern inspired soups and other dishes. Keep some around the house to add a lemony snap to ice tea and interest to your stir fries.

Gardeners in subtropical areas will enjoy using lemongrass in beds and borders. It also does well in tubs and containers. It is especially nice along walkways where plants release fragrance when brushed against by passersby. In colder climates, you can enjoy it as an annual, or pot it up for the winter and keep it in a brightly lit area indoors. To harvest, dig up a clump, separate the sections, cut off the roots and tops keeping about 6 in (15 cm) of the light colored base. A close cousin of lemongrass, cymbogon nardus is the source of citronella oil - the substance that provides the distinctive smell (and punch) to mosquito repellent candles.

Culture & Care

Light: Bright sun preferred but will grow in light shade.
Moisture: Likes moisture but can survive some drought although its appearance will suffer.
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9 - 11. Easy to grow, hardy & takes neglect. Will suffer leaf damage from frosts and is killed back to the roots by hard freezes. I have been growing this plant for years in my Zone 9 garden here in South Louisiana where it always bounces back after a hard winter.

Offered for sale here is a lot of 4 (four) healthy rooted lemongrass stalks. The first photo is what mature plants look like, the last photo is what you will receive, 4 healthy rooted lemongrass plants ready for you to plant. The tops will be cut at about 10" before shipping, and packaged carefully in moist paper towels in plastic, and they will need your attention soon as you receive them.  These grow fast and you will soon have nice large plants after they are established. Please email if you have any questions, thanks for looking!!  Shipping is free to all US ZIP Codes, shipped no later than next business day after payment is received.