Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it grows well in containers and can be brought indoors during winter.

Cut the stalks at the base when they are about 1 cm thick.

Plant guide

Lemongrass.

Cymbopogon citratus

Pronounced sim-bo-PO-gon si-TRA-tus

Also known as Lemon Grass, West Indian lemongrass

Lemongrass is a fragrant, tropical grass that brings a fresh citrus scent to your garden. It thrives in warm, sunny spots and is a favorite for both culinary and ornamental use. You will love how easily it grows when given plenty of heat and moisture.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial grass
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 2 to 4 days
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Rarely blooms in cultivation

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist and provide as much direct sunlight as you can. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant needs more nutrients or is sitting in water that cannot drain. If the tips turn brown, it might be too dry or need more humidity.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back dead or damaged foliage to encourage fresh growth.
Repotting: Repot when the roots become crowded and start to lift the plant out of the container.
Soil: Well draining, fertile loam
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 35°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
The plant becomes root-bound and growth slows.
Water runs straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: This plant is generally safe for humans, though some individuals may experience contact dermatitis from the sharp leaf edges.
Pets: This plant is listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats and dogs. Its essential oils and cyanogenic glycosides can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and ingestion of large amounts of fibrous grass may add to the stomach upset. Symptoms are usually mild.
Children: The sharp, serrated edges of the leaves can easily cut a child's skin if they run their hands along them.
Contact allergens: The serrated leaf edges can cause minor skin cuts and irritation upon handling.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant reports of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.
Edibility: Ensure you are growing Cymbopogon citratus, as some ornamental grasses look similar but are not for consumption.

How to identify it

Long, slender, blue green leaves
Strong citrus fragrance when crushed
Clumping growth habit
Base forms thick, bulbous stalks

Height: 0.9 to 1.8m
Spread: 0.6 to 1.2m
Leaves: blue-green, bright green, evergreen
Flowers: white, 0cm

Problems to watch for

RustCommon
AphidsUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your lemongrass from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: division, cuttings
When to plant: spring, early summer
Overwintering: Bring containers indoors before the first frost. If planted in the ground in cooler climates, treat it as an annual or dig up the clumps to store in a frost-free area.
In containers: It is excellent for containers, provided you use a pot at least 30 cm wide to accommodate its clumping habit.

Division

1. Carefully dig up the entire clump.
2. Use a sharp knife to separate the root ball into smaller sections.
3. Ensure each section has roots and a few stalks.
4. Replant the divisions in fresh, moist soil.

Plant in a sunny spot with consistent moisture to encourage the most flavorful essential oil production.

Grows well with

Basil · Both plants enjoy similar sunny, warm conditions.
Cilantro · They are often used together in the same culinary dishes.

Similar species

Citronella Grass · It looks very similar but is not considered edible.

Science

Family: Poaceae
Genus: Cymbopogon
Order: Poales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Tropical regions of Asia.
Conservation: Not of conservation concern.

It grows in dense clumps in sunny, open areas, effectively outcompeting smaller weeds for light and nutrients.

Value to wildlife: shelter for small insects
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: culinary flavoring, tea, essential oil production, ornamental grass

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow it in a pot?: Yes, it grows well in containers and can be brought indoors during winter.
How do I harvest it?: Cut the stalks at the base when they are about 1 cm thick.

Where the name comes from

The name Cymbopogon comes from the Greek words kymbe and pogon, meaning boat and beard, referring to the boat-shaped spathes of the flower clusters.

Good to know

It is a staple ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine.
The plant is technically a tropical grass.
It thrives in full sun and rich, well-draining soil.

Also in

Keep your lemongrass growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.