Plant profile
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Also known as West Indian lemongrass.
Lemongrass is a warm-climate clumping herb grown for fragrant stems and leaves. Established clumps can be divided to make new plants.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Arid / inland, Mediterranean
- Lifecycle
- Perennial clumping grass
- Light
- Full sun, Part shade
- Mature size
- Usually about 1–2 m tall, forming a substantial clump that may reach roughly 60–100 cm wide.
- Spacing
- Allow about 60–90 cm between plants if you want each clump to develop fully.
- Growth habit
- Dense clumping perennial grass with upright aromatic leaves and short rhizomes at the base.
- Native range
- Southern India and Sri Lanka
- Natural habitat
- Wet tropical habitats in its native range.
When to plant
Tropical
February–October
Subtropical
August–April
Temperate
September–December
Arid inland
August–March
Mediterranean
September–December
Planting
Plant rooted divisions into fertile, well-drained soil during warm weather and water well while they establish.
Position and light
Full sun to light part shade.
Soil
Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil.
Watering
Water regularly during warm active growth, especially in containers.
Feeding
Feed during active growth if stems are thin or growth is slow, using a balanced fertiliser or blood and bone worked lightly into the soil around the clump.
Pruning
Remove dry leaves and cut older growth back if the clump becomes untidy.
Harvest
Harvest thick outer stems at the base as needed, leaving the centre to keep growing. For cooking, pull or cut the thick outer stalks close to the base and peel away the tougher outer layers. Leave the younger centre shoots in place so the clump keeps producing.
Propagation
Divide established clumps with a spade and replant rooted sections. A shop-bought stem with the base intact will also root in a glass of water and can be potted on once roots form.
Common problems
Cold damage, drying out and congested old clumps can reduce growth. Frost can kill foliage to ground level in cooler districts, though established clumps often reshoot from the base in spring.
Worth knowing
A healthy clump produces far more lemongrass than you might expect. Harvest the thick outer stems from around the edge rather than cutting out the centre, and divide an oversized clump when it becomes crowded. The lower stem is the part used in cooking; the coarse upper leaves are usually discarded or used to flavour stock before removal.
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