🌏 Habitat and Ecology
Cymbopogon citratus, universally known as West Indian Lemongrass, is a tropical perennial grass. While it is now pantropical in cultivation, its precise origins are believed to be in Maritime Southeast Asia (likely Malaysia or Indonesia) or Southern India and Sri Lanka. It is strictly a plant of the wet tropics, thriving in warm, humid climates with rich, free-draining soil. It rarely (if ever) flowers in cultivation, suggesting it may be a sterile cultigen developed over centuries of human selection.
🌾 Description and Distinguishing Features
This plant is a robust, clump-forming evergreen grass (Poaceae) prized for its aromatic properties.
Growth Habit: It grows in dense, fountain-like tufts of stiff stems that emerge from a bulbous, fleshy base. It typically reaches 1-1.5 metres (3-5 feet) in height in ideal conditions. The base of the stems (pseudostems) is swollen, white, and fleshy, somewhat resembling a spring onion (scallion).
Foliage: The leaves are linear, strap-like, and arching, measuring up to 90 cm long. They are a bluish-green colour and have razor-sharp, microscopic serrated edges that can easily cut skin if handled carelessly.
Aroma: The defining feature is the intense, fresh lemon scent released when the leaves are bruised or crushed. This is due to the high concentration of citral, the same essential oil found in lemon peel.
🔬 Taxonomy & Ethnobotany
Taxonomy: Cymbopogon is a genus of about 55 species. C. citratus is distinguished from C. flexuosus (East Indian Lemongrass) by its preference for culinary use and its bulbous, white stem bases; C. flexuosus is grown primarily for industrial oil extraction.
Culinary Use: It is a cornerstone herb in Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly in Thai (Tom Yum), Vietnamese, and Sri Lankan dishes. The tender white inner hearts of the stalks are sliced for curries, while the fibrous green leaves are steeped for tea.
Medicinal & Practical: Traditionally, lemongrass tea is used as a digestive aid, sedative, and anti-inflammatory. The essential oil is a potent insect repellent (citronella) and antifungal agent.
💧 Cultivation and Care
Cymbopogon citratus is a fast grower that loves heat and moisture but is frost-tender. In cool climates (like the UK), it is best treated as a container plant to be moved indoors or a summer annual.
Light: Requires Full Sun. It needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to develop sturdy stalks and high oil content. In shade, it becomes spindly and less aromatic.
Substrate: Prefers a rich, loam-based soil that holds moisture but drains well. A mix of standard potting compost with added grit or perlite is ideal. It is a heavy feeder (it is a grass, after all) and appreciates nitrogen-rich soil.
Watering:
Summer: Water copiously. It is a thirsty plant during the growing season and should not be allowed to dry out completely.
Winter: Keep barely moist. If overwintering indoors, water sparingly to prevent root rot in the cooler temperatures.
Temperature:
Hardiness: Not hardy. It suffers damage below 5 C (41 F) and will die in a freeze.
Overwintering: Move pots into a conservatory, greenhouse, or bright windowsill before the first frost. Alternatively, stalks can be harvested and frozen, and the base replanted in spring.
Humidity: Thrives in high humidity but tolerates average conditions as long as the roots are hydrated.
✨ Unique Features
The plant is a sensory powerhouse: structurally architectural with its weeping habit, yet functionally a kitchen staple. Its ability to produce the complex scent of lemons without the acidity makes it unique in the plant kingdom. Additionally, its sharp leaf margins are a notable defense mechanism, serving as a reminder to handle the "queen of herbs" with respect.
🏷️ Specifications
Plant Size: single growth plants in pots. Propagated mid 2025 by us.
Plant Family: Poaceae
Plant Passport: A Cymbopogon citratus B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB
