Lemon Grass Cymbopogon citratus

Enjoy the flavor and beauty of the edible ornamental lemon grass in your garden or containers.

Lemon grass is evergreen in zones 10 to 11, root hardy to zone 8b and grown as an annual or moved indoors for the winter in colder regions.  This easy to grow plant prefers full sun and moist organic soil with good drainage, but it will tolerate less than ideal soil conditions.

Include this 2- to 3-feet-tall grass in the herb garden, borders, containers, and anywhere its fragrance can be enjoyed.

Harvest whole stems throughout the summer as needed. Chop, then finely mince or mash the leaves and use fresh or dry for flavoring teas, soups and stews.  You’ll enjoy the lemony flavor you may have enjoyed in Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian cooking. The oils from lemon grass have long been used for medicinal purposes and in perfumes.

A bit more information:  Lemon grass is also tolerant of the juglone contained in all parts of the black walnut tree and it’s air pollution tolerant.