Lemongrass

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Also known as: West Indian Lemongrass, Fever Grass

Lemongrass is a fast-growing tropical grass known for its intensely lemony aroma and diverse culinary and medicinal uses. Native to Southeast Asia, this perennial (grown as an annual in temperate zones) thrives in sunny garden beds and containers, forming elegant clumps of arching, blade-like leaves. It’s an essential herb in Thai and Vietnamese cooking and also a beloved plant in herbal medicine for calming the nervous system, easing digestion, and relieving inflammation. Its lush growth, pest-repelling qualities, and flavor-packed stalks make it a favorite in permaculture gardens and kitchen herb beds.

Key Characteristics

• Culinary Staple – Lower Stalks & Leaf Bases
  Lemongrass is a cornerstone of Southeast Asian cuisine. The tender lower stalks and leaf bases are used to flavor curries, soups, teas, and marinades. It brings a bright, citrusy flavor with subtle ginger notes, and is often simmered and then removed from dishes like bay leaves.

• Medicinal Uses – Leaves & Stalks
  Lemongrass is traditionally used to support digestion, reduce fevers, calm anxiety, and ease inflammation. Both fresh and dried leaves are used in teas to relieve bloating, promote relaxation, and support the immune system. Its essential oil is antifungal and antibacterial, commonly used in natural remedies and homemade body care products.

• Natural Insect Repellent and Companion Plant
  Lemongrass contains citronella and other aromatic compounds that repel mosquitoes, aphids, and other pests. In the garden, it can be planted near vegetables or outdoor seating areas to deter insects. It also serves as a windbreak and living mulch in tropical food forest designs.

• Permaculture and Landscape Use
  Ideal for food forests, herb spirals, sunny borders, and containers. Lemongrass’s clumping habit prevents erosion on slopes and swales, and its dense foliage offers shelter for beneficial insects. It’s also a great chop-and-drop mulch plant in tropical and subtropical permaculture systems.

Product Details

• Native range: Southeast Asia

• Plant life cycle: Tender perennial (grown as annual in zones below 9)

• Sun requirements: Full sun

• Soil requirements: Medium to rich, well-drained

• Mature height: 3–5 feet

• Bloom time: Rarely blooms in temperate climates

• Bloom color: Infrequent; inconspicuous

• USDA Hardiness zones: 9–11 (annual in 3–8)

Lemongrass is a powerful, multi-use plant that’s as functional as it is fragrant. Whether you’re cooking up curries, brewing herbal tea, or designing a pest-resistant garden edge, lemongrass deserves a spot in your garden plan.