How to Grow Lemon Grass: Planting, Care, and Harvesting

Nov 03, 2026by David Schulze

Lemon grass (Cymbopogon spp.) is a fragrant tropical grass prized for its citrus-flavored stalks, a staple in many Asian dishes. The clumps of slender, arching blades can grow three to four feet tall or more, and a single plant is often enough for a household. Lemon grass is a perennial in tropical climates, but it does not tolerate frost, so gardeners in colder regions grow it as a heat-loving annual or dig and overwinter the clumps indoors.

When to Plant Lemon Grass

Start seeds indoors a few weeks before your last frost date, and transplant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed, once temperatures stay reliably warm. Direct sowing is possible once air temperatures reach about 60°F. Lemon grass grows slowly at first and then takes off with summer heat and humidity, so give it as long and warm a season as possible.

How to Plant Lemon Grass Seeds

Sow seeds on the soil surface or no deeper than an eighth of an inch, since light aids germination, and keep them evenly moist. Soil warmth around 68°F helps germination, which typically takes about two weeks. Choose a spot in full sun with loose, fast-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Thin or transplant seedlings to give each clump room: spacing suggestions range from about a foot to two feet apart, since mature clumps can spread several feet.

Caring for Lemon Grass Plants

Lemon grass needs consistent moisture and is not drought tolerant, so water regularly if rainfall is sparse, and never let the soil stay soggy, which can cause rot. As a grass, it is also a heavy feeder that appreciates nitrogen: feed plants during the summer growing season, more often for container-grown clumps. Watch that clumps do not outgrow their space, and divide them every few years to control size.

Overwintering Lemon Grass

Frost will kill or severely damage the plants, so harvest or dig clumps before overnight temperatures reach freezing. In cold-winter areas, dig up small clumps or pot up divisions and move them indoors to a bright spot for the winter; in mild-winter areas, cut the grass back to about six inches when growth slows and it will resume in spring.

Harvesting Lemon Grass

Begin harvesting once clumps reach at least a foot tall with a dozen or more stalks. Cut stalks at ground level just below the bulbous base, or dig out whole stalks with a fan of leaves and trim the roots. Harvest no more than a third of a clump at a time so it can keep growing. The bulbous base is the most flavorful and tender part of the plant. Wear gloves when handling lemon grass, since the leaf edges can be sharp.

Using Lemon Grass in the Kitchen

Harvest stalks right before use for the best flavor, and smash or bruise the bulbous base before adding it to recipes. Fresh stalks keep in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed bag for several weeks, or you can freeze them for longer storage.