Days to Maturity: 95 from direct sow
An essential herb for Asian cuisine, the leaves and stems of lemongrass can be used fresh or dried to impart a distinct lemon flavor. Lemongrass also makes a wonderful ingredient for hot teas, and is attractive enough to grow simply as an ornamental in patio pots or in the sunny garden.
This clump-forming perennial resembles an ornamental grass with its aromatic cane-like stems arising from a central base. The lemon-scented, linear, strap leaves reach 3 feet long, falling over at the tip. It is a honeybee magnet, and a useful addition to any garden friendly to butterflies, bees, and other wildlife.
Lemongrass thrives in moist soil and full sun, growing 3 to 5 feet tall within a single season. The seed germinates in 7 to 14 days, and the plant reaches a good size for picking about 3 months later. If you begin the seeds indoors, transplant the young plants at about 6 inches high.
Lemongrass is hardy only in zones 9-11, so if you live north of its range, you may want to grow it in containers, where it can be brought to a bright, frost-free location for winter. Quite long-lived, it will fulfill all your culinary needs for many seasons.
Details
| Genus |
Cymbopogon |
| Species |
flexosus |
| Item Form |
(P) Pkt of 100 seeds |
| Zone |
9 - 11 |
| Days to Maturity |
95 |
| Fruit Color |
Green |
| Habit |
Upright |
| Seeds Per Pack |
100 |
| Plant Height |
3 ft - 5 ft |
| Plant Width |
24 in - 3 ft |
| Additional Characteristics |
Bloom First Year, Easy Care Plants, Edible, Evergreen, Fragrance, Herbs, Rose Companions, Variegated |
| Foliage Color |
Blue Green, Orange |
| Harvest Season |
Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid Summer |
| Light Requirements |
Full Sun |
| Moisture Requirements |
Moist, well-drained |
| Resistance |
Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant |
| Soil Tolerance |
Normal, loamy, Sandy |
| Uses |
Beds, Border, Containers, Cuisine, Foliage Interest, Hedge, Ornamental, Outdoor |
