To care for a lemongrass plant, give it at least six hours of full sun, keep the soil evenly moist but well drained, and feed it regularly from late spring through summer. Do that, and one small plant fills out into a big, fragrant clump of stalks by fall.
The catch is cold. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a tropical grass that only lives outdoors year-round in USDA Zones 10 to 11, and in Zone 9 with some protection.
Everywhere else, your lemongrass plant needs a winter plan, so I’ve laid out the care by season.
Lemongrass Care in One Minute
Good lemongrass care comes down to warmth, sun, water, and food, plus a winter plan if you live north of Zone 10. Here’s the whole routine at a glance:
- Sun: 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day. More is better.
- Soil: Rich, loose, well-drained soil with compost mixed in. Heavy clay is a problem.
- Water: Keep the soil evenly moist. In-ground plants need water once or twice a week; pots may need it daily in July heat.
- Feeding: A nitrogen-rich or balanced fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks during active growth.
- Planting time: After your last frost, once nights stay at 60°F or warmer.
- Containers: 5 gallons minimum. I like a 7-gallon size for a full clump.
- Harvest: Pull or cut outer stalks once they’re about ½ inch thick.
- Fall: Bring pots inside when nights drop below 50°F.
- Winter: Grow it in a sunny window, or cut it back and let it go dormant in a cool garage.
- Pets: The ASPCA lists lemongrass as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
If you remember nothing else about how to care for lemongrass, remember this: it loves heat and hates frost and soggy roots.
Getting Started: Nursery Plants, Grocery Stalks, or Seed?
You can start lemongrass three ways, and they differ mostly in speed. Live plants give you a harvest within a couple of months, grocery stalks take 4 to 6 extra weeks to root, and seed is the slowest and fussiest route.
Why I’d Start with a Live Plant
My advice for most gardeners is to buy live lemongrass plants from a nursery or garden center in spring. They’re already rooted, so you skip the waiting and the guesswork.
When you shop, look for firm, fresh-feeling stems and green leaves without brown streaks. A younger, smaller plant is fine. It settles in fast and has plenty of room to grow once it’s home.
Check the label for the variety, too. The two lemongrass varieties you’ll see in the US are:
- West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus): the classic cooking type with plump stalk bases. This is the one I’d grow for the kitchen.
- East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus): a bit more compact, mostly grown for its oil in soaps and perfumes, though it’s edible too.
Both are sold simply as “lemon grass” at times, so the botanical name on the tag helps.
Can Grocery Stalks Grow Roots?
Yes, fresh grocery stalks often root in water. Pick the firmest bunch you can find, ideally with a bit of the root end still attached. Asian markets tend to have the freshest stalks.
Peel off a dry outer layer, set the stalks in a glass with an inch or two of water, and keep it on a warm, bright windowsill. Change the water every few days.
Roots show up in a few weeks, and once they’re 1 to 2 inches long, you can pot them up. I walk through each step in my guide on how to regrow lemongrass from store-bought stalks.
Keep in mind that grocery stalks are sold for food. Some are trimmed too hard or stored too cold to root, and they can carry plant diseases, so a nursery plant is the safer bet.
What to Expect from Seeds
Lemongrass seeds work, but they test your patience. Most seeds sprout in 2 to 3 weeks, though some take up to 40 days.
Start them indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost. Press them lightly onto the surface of moist seed-starting mix, since they need light to sprout, and keep them at 68°F to 77°F.
A clear dome or plastic cup over the pot holds in moisture. Don’t let the mix dry out, because that stops germination.
Move seedlings outside once they’re about 4 inches tall and frost is over.
Choosing a Spot: Sun, Soil, and Containers
The best spot for lemongrass is your sunniest, warmest area with loose soil that drains well. If your yard has clay or shade, a big container lets you move the plant to the light.
How Much Direct Sun Does Lemongrass Need?
Lemongrass needs at least 6 hours of direct sun daily, and 8 hours gives you thicker stalks and a stronger lemon scent. In shade, the clump grows thin and floppy and attracts more pests.
Even in the hot Southwest and Southeast, full sun is fine as long as the soil stays moist. A spot sheltered from strong wind keeps the tall leaves from snapping or flattening. For more on placement, see my post on how much sun lemongrass needs.
Which Soil Drains Well Without Drying Out?
Lemongrass grows best in rich, loamy soil that holds moisture yet lets extra water run off. A pH of about 6.0 to 7.0 suits it, though it handles slightly acidic soil well.
Before planting, mix 2 to 3 inches of compost or aged manure into the top 8 inches of soil.
If you have heavy clay, which is common in the Southeast and parts of the Midwest, plant in a raised bed or container. A gentle slope also helps water drain.
For pots, I use a quality potting mix with some compost stirred in. A handful of perlite helps drainage.
What Size Pot or Grow Bag Should You Use?
Use a container that holds at least 5 gallons and measures about 12 inches wide and deep. Smaller pots dry out fast and tip over once the plant gets top-heavy.
I like 7-gallon fabric grow bags for lemongrass. They’re light enough to carry indoors in fall, they drain well, and the fabric lets roots breathe so they don’t circle. The trade-off is that they dry out faster than plastic, so check them often in summer.
Any container you choose needs drainage holes. That point is non-negotiable.
Spring: How to Care for a Lemongrass Plant After Frost
Spring is when you plant, divide, and wake up overwintered lemongrass. The key is waiting for warm nights, since cold soil stalls growth for weeks.
When Is It Safe to Plant Outside?
Plant lemongrass outside after your last frost date, once nighttime temperatures stay at 60°F or above. In much of the US, that means:
| Region | Typical planting window |
|---|---|
| South Florida, South Texas, Southern California | March or earlier |
| Southeast and Southwest | April |
| Mid-Atlantic, Midwest | Mid to late May |
| Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest | Late May to mid-June |
If your plant spent winter indoors, harden it off first. Set it outside in a sheltered spot for a few hours a day, adding time over 1 to 2 weeks, and bring it in if nights dip to 40°F.
How to Set Out Plants and Divide Established Clumps
Planting lemongrass is a lot like planting onion sets. Follow these steps:
- Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide.
- Set the plant so the base of the stalks sits right at the soil line, with roots buried.
- Fill in, firm the soil gently, and water deeply.
- Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart in the ground, since a clump can spread 3 feet or more.
- Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base, keeping it an inch off the stalks.
Spring is also the best time to propagate lemongrass by division. Water the clump the day before so the soil holds together.
Dig deep around it or tip it out of its pot, then use a sharp spade or knife to cut it into sections. Each piece needs several healthy stalks and a good set of roots.
Replant right away and water well.
Wear gloves while you work. The leaf edges are sharp enough to cut skin.
Summer: Watering, Feeding, and Harvesting
Summer is lemongrass’s big growing season, and it needs steady water and food to keep up. This is also when you’ll get most of your harvest.
Keep Soil Evenly Moist, Not Soggy
Lemongrass is a thirsty plant, and it won’t handle drought. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
For plants in the ground, that’s usually once or twice a week, about an inch of water each time. Pots need more: every 2 to 4 days in mild weather and daily during hot spells.
Fabric bags may need water twice a day in a Texas or Arizona heat wave.
Water at the soil line in the morning. Wet leaves overnight invite rust. A layer of mulch cuts down how often you water.
Soggy soil is the opposite problem. If the pot feels heavy and the soil smells sour, hold off until it dries a bit.
Feed During Active Growth
Lemongrass is a heavy feeder, and nitrogen fuels its leafy growth. I’d feed every 2 to 3 weeks from late spring through late summer.
An organic liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion is an easy choice. Mix it at the strength on the label and water it in. You can also scratch in a slow-release fertilizer at planting time and side-dress with compost once mid-season.
Stop feeding by early fall. New tender growth right before cold weather is more easily damaged.
Know When Stalks Are Ready
Stalks are ready when they’re about ½ inch thick at the base and the clump has at least five healthy stems. Most plants reach that point 3 to 4 months after planting.
The base should look plump, pale, and firm, with a strong lemon smell when you bruise it. I explain the technique below and in more detail in my post on how to harvest lemongrass.
Fall: Getting Ready for Cold
Fall is when you decide where your lemongrass will spend winter. Growth slows as nights cool, and the plant gives you color clues that cold is close.
When to Bring Plants Inside
Bring potted lemongrass indoors when nighttime temperatures start dropping below 50°F. Don’t wait for frost, since one freeze can kill the leaves and damage the crown.
Before moving it, check the leaves and soil for pests so you don’t carry them inside. Hose the plant off, trim brown