How to Grow Lemongrass (in the Garden and in Containers)

Growing lemongrass is easy. As in really easy — and a lemongrass plant is a pretty addition to gardens, too. Lemongrass is an herb commonly grown in tropical regions. Its strong lemon flavor is a common ingredient in Asian foods, and is used to give soups, stir fries, and tea a little extra zing.

lemongrass plants in the ground.

Lemongrass grows easily in my warm climate, but in colder climates you can grow a lemongrass plant in a pot. This allows you to move it indoors when the weather turns.

In a warm outdoor environment, a lemongrass plant can reach six feet high; it will remain smaller when grown in pots.

lemongrass plant

Growing Lemongrass

Lemongrass is kind of a nondescript plant. Unless you know what it is, you’d likely mistake it for any number of different grasses. Or weeds, if you’re my husband out weed whacking. (These poor plants have been whacked to the ground a number of times, and they keep coming back!)

You can grow lemongrass plants directly in the ground or in containers.


 

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Lemongrass Varieties

There several varieties of lemongrass, with two used prominently as an edible herb: West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus). They’re both edible and can be used in cooking, but the West Indian variety tends to be more favored by cooks.

(Cymbopogon nardis, aka citronella grass, is related to lemongrass and used to make the citronella essential oil that is often used as an insect repellent.)

The plants are considered a tender perennial, hardy in tropical climates (zones 9-10). In cooler regions, they’re often grown as an annual during the spring and summer growing season. Alternatively, grow them in containers that can be moved inside during the winter months in a cold climate.

These edible plants are an excellent addition to the landscape in warm regions and can be used in flower beds as a background plant, much like any ornamental grass. Mature lemongrass plants reach about 3’ in height.

Lemongrass is great for flavoring foods, but its oils are also used as a natural pest repellent. Will planting lemongrass in your yard help repel mosquitoes? There’s only one way to find out! 

Lemongrass is easy to grow and pretty, too. Growing lemongrass in your own garden means you'll have it on hand when recipes call for this herb.

How to Grow Lemongrass

This plant prefers well draining soil and plenty of sunlight. Select a sunny spot for planting, preferably a warm, sloping area that’s well-protected from damaging winds. A slightly sloped spot provides drainage, allowing you to maintain the moist soil it likes without it becoming waterlogged.

This citrus-scented grass can be planted as potted plants after the last frost has passed for your area. Set young plants or rooted cuttings into the ground in a warm spot.

gloved hands planting lemongrass.

Requirements for Growing Lemongrass

Light and soil requirements

Lemongrass requires full sun to thrive. They prefer a well-drained soil

Fertilizer and water requirements

These hardy plants don’t require much. New plants situated in-ground require only average soil, but will benefit from a side dressing of compost once a season. Container grown plants can be side-dressed with compost once every six weeks or so.

Maintain a moist soil environment without letting the plant’s roots become waterlogged. They need good drainage.

Preventing Problems

Lemon grass plants are mostly bereft of pests, but it can develop rust fungus. This disease causes the leaves to yellow and eventually develop brown spots. Combat this by removing damaged and dead leaves and disposing of them in the trash. (Spores can survive in debris on the ground.)

lemongrass plant in a planter

Growing Lemongrass in Containers

Fill a large-ish container — a 5-gallon pot is good — with a good-quality potting mix. Plant the lemongrass according to the plant’s specifications. Water deeply and regularly to help roots get off to a good start. Avoid overwatering to keep roots healthy.

In cold-weather regions, you’ll need to protect the container from freezing in late winter. Move the container into an unheated garage or shed that doesn’t get below freezing. In warmer climates, you can protect your container outside by surrounding it with insulating materials.

Try growing your own turmeric at home, too!

2 bundles of lemongrass stalks on a wooden table

Propagating Lemongrass

There are a number of methods for getting lemongrass started in your garden, and in all cases, it’s an easy plant to get growing. If you’re growing it as an annual, get it started indoors so the plants will be ready to move outdoors when the weather warms in early spring.

Starting from Stalks

If your grocery store sells lemongrass in the produce section, you might be able to grow lemongrass from stalks. (Try an Asian grocery store if your market is too mundane for this ingredient.)

Look for lemongrass with the root ends still intact at the base of the stalk. Those stalks will root and easily grow. 

To root lemongrass stalks, place stalks in a glass of water so that the root ends are submerged in an inch or two of water. Change the water out every few days. In a couple of weeks or so, you should see new roots beginning to emerge from the base.

Those are the start of your new lemongrass plant!

Keep the stalks in the water until the roots are an inch or two long, then transplant the lemongrass stalks into a pot full of soil or directly in your garden.

Alternatively, you can set the stalks directly into soil to root. To do this, you’ll need to be very mindful of maintaining the moisture of the soil by watering regularly until the lemongrass takes root. If you live in a hot, dry climate, you’re probably better off rooting the lemongrass stalks in water.

clump of grass growing in soil

Growing Lemongrass from Divisions

Lemongrass is a perennial in warm climates, and like many other perennials, a single lemon grass plant can be an ongoing source of more lemongrass plants. It grows in clumps that can be divided as desired.

If you know someone with a lemongrass plant, ask if you can have some. Use a shovel to dig up some rooted lemongrass from the edge of the plant. It won’t bother the growing plant at all, and you’ll have rooted, ready-to-plant lemongrass.

Plants can also be dug up in their entirety and divided into numerous plants. Just use a shovel to break the root ball into smaller pieces.

Starting with Seeds

You’ll likely need to order lemongrass seeds online; they’re not commonly found on the nursery seed racks.

Scatter several seeds over the surface of soil in a small pot then cover with about ½” of soil. Keep soil moist during this germination period

Cool Climate Growing

Grow lemongrass in a large pot and you can simply move the plant to a frost-free location during the winter months.

If you grow your lemongrass in the ground, dig several stalks along with their roots when winter approaches. Transfer these into pots and grow them inside during the cold season. When spring arrives, plant them back out in the garden after the danger of frost has passed.

lemon grass plants after harvest.

Harvesting

To use just the leaves, simply head out to the garden with a pair of scissors and snip off what you need. 

If you need the stalk, use a small trowel to dig out several at the base of the plant. This will not cause any damage to mature plants. 

Using Fresh Lemongrass

The flavorful leaves and stalks of the lemongrass are commonly used in Asian cuisine. The inner stalks are commonly used in cooking. The green leaves are used for making lemongrass tea.

Not sure what to make with your lemongrass? Try these:

You can even use it in making your own deodorant or an easy lemongrass ginger scrub!

lemongrass plant in a pot

Originally published May 2014; this post has been updated.

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About the author: Kris Bordessa is an award-winning National Geographic author and a certified Master Food Preserver. Read more about Kris and how she got started with this site here. If you want to send Kris a quick message, you can get in touch here.

12 comments… add one
  • Michele Bauer Apr 11, 2023 @ 18:02

    Where can I order seeds that aren’t to expensive and a good deal

    • AttainableSustainable May 11, 2023 @ 3:44

      Look around online to find what works for you. 🙂

  • Jawad Sader Jun 2, 2022 @ 19:37

    Beautiful and thanks

    • AttainableSustainable Jun 7, 2022 @ 2:29

      You’re welcome 🙂

  • Erna Toback, PhD Oct 18, 2021 @ 12:34

    I have a gigantic Lemon Grass Plant (3ft wide x 5.5ft tall. However, the leaves are like a saw and trying to cut them for use, requires extreme coverage (clothes, hat, gloves), and even then, the sharp edges cut into soft material. Any suggestions? Should I send a pic? Thanks!

    • Kris Bordessa Nov 10, 2021 @ 7:44

      It sounds like a vicious plant! I’m not sure I have anything to add beyond your safety measures.

  • Sal Manick Jun 8, 2021 @ 2:48

    This is what we use on our island of TRINIDAD to make an antiflammatory drink (you wash a couple blades of the lemongrass put it in a pot add a couple cups of water couple slices of ginger and turmeric root cover and bring to a rapid boil then leave to steep a bit and then you drink with a few added drops of honey .. it tastes awesome and works wonders as well ❤ give it a try

    • Kris Bordessa Jul 6, 2021 @ 16:40

      Sounds delicious!

  • Carol L Mar 16, 2019 @ 14:42

    “A lemongrass plant can also be dug up in its entirety and divided into numerous plants. Just use a shovel to break the root ball into smaller pieces. Plant these in”
    Oops! where is the est of the sentence?

  • Judi Feb 18, 2018 @ 14:52

    I am in the piedmont of North Carolina. I grew lemongrass last year in a big pot and left it to overwinter. It is in a protected area, so I am hoping! So far, I have only used it to flavor rice in a cooker.

    • Kris Bordessa Feb 20, 2018 @ 16:15

      Fingers crossed!

  • Suzanne Compton-Bayer Feb 15, 2018 @ 17:36

    It is also a wonderful mosquito repellent.

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