Cymbopogon citratus – Lemongrass

Invite an intoxicating fragrance and an exotic touch into your garden or onto your balcony with Cymbopogon citratus, better known as Lemongrass! This spectacular aromatic herb, with its long, slender leaves and refreshing lemony scent, is a must-have for Asian cuisine and an excellent natural insect repellent. Easy to grow, it will transform your space into a haven of flavours and freshness.

Characteristics

• Foliage: Long, thin, strap-like leaves, light green to bluish-green, forming dense clumps. They release a powerful lemon scent when bruised or cut. Foliage is evergreen in tropical climates, but acts as an annual or goes dormant in cooler climates.
• Flowering: Rarely observed in cultivation in our climates. Produces tall flower stalks with small, greenish-white flowers. The main interest of the plant lies in its aromatic foliage.
• Light Requirements: Needs full sun (6+ hours per day) for optimal growth and aroma production. Insufficient exposure can lead to weaker growth and less intense fragrance.
• Habit: Forms a dense, upright clump of leaves, with a slightly bulbous base, resembling an ornamental grass.
• Growth: Fast growth. In a single season, it can reach 90 to 150 cm (3 to 5 feet) in height and spread under ideal conditions.
• Humidity: Prefers consistently moist but well-drained soil. Tolerates short dry periods once established.
• Soil: Adapts to rich, fertile, and well-drained soil. For container growing, use a high-quality potting mix.
• Temperature: Tropical plant, absolutely intolerant to frost. Growth slows below 10 °C (50 °F) and the plant perishes with frost. Ideal temperatures are between 20 °C and 35 °C (68 °F and 95 °F).
• Watering: Keep soil uniformly moist, especially during hot and dry periods. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
• Resistances: Generally resistant to diseases and most pests. Its fragrance acts as a natural repellent.

Usage

• Types of Use: A must-have in cooking (soups, curries, teas, infusions). Can be grown in pots or containers on patios and balconies. Ideal for an herb garden, in mass plantings for its ornamental grass-like appearance, or as an aromatic barrier against insects in lounging areas.
• Decorative Benefits: Its slender fronds and graceful habit bring an airy texture and exotic look to any design. Its refreshing lemony scent perfumes the air, particularly pleasant on summer evenings.

Maintenance

• Fertilization: Monthly fertilization with a balanced fertilizer during active growth (spring-summer) promotes abundant leaf production.
• Pruning: Harvest outer stalks at the base as needed for cooking. In early spring, you can prune dry or damaged stalks to rejuvenate the plant.
• Planting:
  • Spacing: Approximately 90 cm (3 feet) between plants if grown in the ground or in large containers to allow for full development.
  • Depth: Plant at the same depth as it was in its original container.
  • Period: Plant or move outdoors after all risk of frost in spring, when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 10 °C (50 °F).