This tropical perennial grass has tillers with upright foliage and forms a clump. It has yellow-green pointed linear leaves that are upright and arching and the infrequent brownish-glaucous flowers appear in a raceme above the foliage during summer.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Cymbopogon citratus is naturally found in Tropical Asia growing in well drained fertile moist light soils in an open sunny position and is frost and drought tender.

Lemon Grass is a tropical grass that is grown for its scented foliage clumping habit. It is planted in small or herb gardens along front borders or grown in pots and tubs. It tolerates a temperate climate but grows better in the tropics and establishes in one season.

It is planted around ponds or along watercourses as a quick soil stabiliser. This grass is also grown for the oil from herbage and roots. The foliage may be used in herbal tea to help clear the skin and eyes and the stem base is used in cooking.ID 715

Cymbopogon(sim-buh-POH-gon) citrates (sit-RATE-s)

Poaceae(poh_AY-see-ee)
Grass Family