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Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus
Edible value5Medicinal value3Other uses5
perennial1.8×1.5 mzone 9–11full sun

Will it grow where I live?

Lemongrass is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family
Poaceae
Habit
perennial
Height
1.8 m
Spread
1.5 m
Growth
fast
Lifespan
6 years
First yield
after 1 year
Hardiness
zone 9–11
Shade tolerance
full sun
Soil
Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture
semi-dry – very moist
pH
5.5 – 7
evergreen

Uses

Edible5 of 10
Medicinal3 of 10
Other uses5 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Lemongrass: how big does it get?

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) grows as a perennial and reaches roughly 1.8 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 1.5 m. Growth is fast.

Lemongrass: what site does it need?

Lemongrass tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.

Lemongrass: is it hardy?

Lemongrass is listed as hardy in zone 9–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Lemongrass: will it grow in Central Europe?

Lemongrass is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Lemongrass: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Lemongrass. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Lemongrass: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 5/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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All data without warranty. Site data and texts from the Permaplans database.

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