Plants are one-year old at time of shipment and will arrive in a dormant, bare-root state.

Compared with seed-grown East Indian Lemon Grass, the stalks are larger and more bulbous at the stem base. These bare-rooted plants can be potted up or planted directly in the ground. When mature, each plant will produce at least 6-12 stalks for harvest, and will regrow when cut back to just above the soil line.

Native to southern India, West Indian Lemon Grass is a widely used aromatic herb. The plant grows in dense clumps with the leaves reaching 3’ tall. The entire stalk (bulb and grass) has a light lemon flavor and is used in soups, curries or teas. Lemon grass contains citrol and is made into teas to aid digestion. This tender perennial performs well as a container-grown herb.

DAYS TO MATURITY: 100 days

LIFE CYCLE: Tender Perennial, Open Pollinated

PLANTING: Plant the bare root lemon grass as soon as possible after their arrival, but avoid planting until all chances of frost are gone. If you will not be able to transplant the lemon grass outside for several days or longer, you can plant the lemon grass in small containers and place them in a greenhouse or sunny window until you are ready to move them outside.

Transplanting to the field: Plant ½" deep in prepared soil. Space plants 18-36" apart in rows 3-5' apart. Space the plants closer together if you will be growing them as an annual.

Transplanting to pots: Plant ½" deep in prepared soil. To transplant into pots for resale, use one 2 ½" or 4" pot per plant. Container planting is a good option for northern growers who may want to overwinter the plants inside.

LIGHT / HEAT PREFERENCE: Sun. Lemon grass also prefers warm, 60-85°F (15-29°C), humid growing conditions.

SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Lemon grass prefers a nitrogen-rich soil that has a pH of 5.5-7.5. Avoid heavy or clay soil types. Lemon grass grows best in areas with 24-30" of rainfall per year, so frequent irrigation may be needed in drier climates.

PLANT HEIGHT: 20-60"

PLANT SPACING: 18-36" apart in rows 3-5' apart. Space the plants closer together if you will be growing them as an annual.

HARDINESS ZONES: Zones 9-13. Lemon grass is a tender perennial. Grow as an annual in colder zones, or overwinter the plants indoors.

HARVEST: To harvest the entire plant, cut the stalks off at the base of the plant. The plant will slowly sprout new stalks. Individual stalks can also be harvested as needed by cutting or pulling them from the base of the plant. Harvesting individual stalks is a good option for growers who want to have a continuous supply of stalks.

This product does not ship outside the United States.

This product does not ship to the following states: CA, HI, AZ, LA, TX, WA, AE, AP, AS, FM, GU, MH, MP, PR, PW, VI.