potted lemongrass plant Lemongrass Plant (Cymbopogon citratus)

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a staple ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking and a wonderfully versatile herb to have on hand. Those thick, fragrant stalks deliver a bright, citrusy flavor that's essential in Thai curries, Vietnamese soups, and countless other dishes—and fresh lemongrass is genuinely superior to anything you'll find dried or jarred at the grocery store. It's also a striking garden plant, with tall, arching grassy foliage that adds a lush, tropical feel to beds and containers alike.

SHIPPING INFO: Herbs primarily ship in May.

Why Grow Lemongrass?

🍋 Bright Citrus Flavor: Fresh lemongrass stalks bring a clean, lemony depth to curries, soups, teas, and marinades that dried or jarred versions simply can't match.

🌿 Natural Mosquito Repellent: Lemongrass oil (from its natural citronella content) is a well-known deterrent to mosquitoes, making it a practical herb to grow near seating areas.

🌱 Bold and Low-Maintenance: Once established, lemongrass is a vigorous, heat-loving plant that requires minimal fuss and rewards you with an abundant harvest.

Growing Information

🌱 Plant Type: Tender perennial herb (grown as an annual or container plant in cooler climates)

🌱 Plant Height: 3–5 feet

🌱 Hardiness Zones: 9–11 (grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in Zones 4–8)

🌱 When to Plant: Spring, after last frost and once temperatures are consistently warm

🌱 When to Harvest: Once stalks are at least half an inch thick at the base, typically mid to late summer

Cultivation Tips

• Soil: Fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0. Lemongrass appreciates a little compost worked in at planting time. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soil.
• Sunlight: Full sun—at least 6–8 hours daily. Lemongrass loves heat and will sulk in too much shade.
• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then water weekly, more frequently during extreme heat. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture and keep roots happy.
• Harvesting: Twist or cut outer stalks at the base when they're at least half an inch thick. Always leave the inner core of the plant intact so it continues to produce. The lower, pale portion of the stalk is what's used in cooking; the upper grassy leaves can be used for teas and infusions.
• Container growing: Lemongrass does very well in large containers (12–16 inch pots minimum). This is the preferred approach in cooler climates so you can bring the pot indoors before first frost and overwinter in a sunny spot, then move back outside the following spring.
• In cooler zones: If treating as an annual, plant after all frost danger has passed and give it as long a season as possible. It grows fast in warm weather and can still produce a worthwhile harvest even in a single season.

Our lemongrass is greenhouse-grown and arrives as an established plug in a 3" pot, ready to go straight into your garden or container.

Non-GMO Commitment: At The Farm on Central, all our plants are guaranteed non-GMO and not genetically modified in any way, upholding natural breeding methods and promoting sustainable gardening and farming practices.