Lemon Grass
- botanical name: Cymbopogon citratus
- annual
- height 24-48″
- spacing 12-24″ apart
- full sun tolerant
- dry-moist, well-drained soil
- uses in garden: bog, great in containers, cut foliage, very fragrant
- use in Asian cuisine, in herbal teas, potpourri
- repels insects
*Please note: We accept plant orders at any time of the year and if you prefer to place an order outside our regular shipping months of April-May, ordering is still easy. “Why we only ship in April and May”
Due to the nature of shipping live plants, when you place an order, we will simply hold your order and ship it at the proper time for your zone, when weather permits in April 2013. Seed packets are shipped year round through USPS.
For more information see our “Ordering and Shipping Policy.”
True to its name, Lemon Grass is tall and grassy, a lovely texture for the garden or as a centerpiece in a combination pot. It is excellent in Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Vietnamese, though it originated in India. It can also be used to flavor tea.
Lemon grass is also known as fevergrass because in India it is traditionally used to fight fever and infection. Its strong, fresh and citrusy scent has lent it to use in perfumes as well. The oil of Lemongrass, citral, is antiseptic, antibacterial, and antiviral. It is also an insect repellent.
Sowing Instructions:
Can tolerate moist and humid conditions and likes heat. Water regularly. Lemon grass prefers full sun and well-drained, sandy, moist soil. Divide in spring.
To harvest, pick the individual reeds, peel the tough grassy layer off and mince the tender core. For the health of the plant, never harvest more than a third of the overall reeds at one time. To dry, hang stems in bunches in a cool, dry location or place stems on drying screens. Once dry, cut into appropriate lengths and store in air-tight containers.
