Variety field guide
What to expect from West Indian Lemon Grass
West Indian Lemon Grass is a perennial west indian lemongrass selection grown for perennial or repeat-cut herb gardens, culinary leaves, flowers, and seed saving where appropriate.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
The aromatic grass that defines tropical fragrance. ‘West Indian Lemon Grass’ grows in tall, graceful clumps with slender, arching leaves and a powerful lemon-citrus scent. The stalks are tender and flavorful, widely used in teas, curries, and herbal infusions. Fast-growing and beautifully ornamental, with green-blue foliage that sways gently in the breeze.
About West Indian Lemon Grass
West Indian Lemon Grass is a perennial selection of west indian lemongrass, with a clumping/tufted habit and an expected height or spread of 37–48 in. It is best suited to perennial or repeat-cut herb gardens, culinary leaves, flowers, and seed saving where appropriate. Notable traits include harvest clean leaves or tender stems before decline; reserve representative plants for flowering or division.
Gardeners comparing named strains should evaluate West Indian Lemon Grass for uniformity, flavor, timing, and plant form rather than assuming another west indian lemongrass will perform identically.
History and provenance
This herb has been selected in regional foodways for aroma, acidity, sweetness, color, or leaf use. Cultural context is retained where it is well established, but a commercial name alone does not prove a breeder, community, or accession history for the packet now being sold. Lemongrass Seeds - West Indian Lemon Grass belongs to a diverse cultivated plant lineage shaped by regional gardeners, farmers, and seedkeepers over time. Its continued presence in gardens reflects selection for usefulness, beauty, resilience, flavor, or cultural value. Native to South Asia and now cultivated worldwide, West Indian lemon grass is a cornerstone of global cuisine and herbal tradition-refreshing, cleansing, and endlessly useful.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Maturity | 90-99 Days |
| Germination | 10-21 Days at 70–85 °F |
| Seed depth | Surface Sow |
| Plant height / spread | 37–48 in |
| Growth habit | Clumping/Tufted |
| Spacing | 18 in between plants; 30 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting West Indian Lemon Grass from seed
Surface sow and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 10-21 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 70–85 °F. Germination preparation: Use a fine, evenly moist seed-starting mix or prepared seedbed. Light requirement: Light required; press seed to the surface without burying. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during spring and provide full sun. Space plants 18 in apart with 30 in between rows. Use loamy with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Tender. Large permanent container possible, but in-ground culture usually supports longer life
Harvest and use
Approximately 90-99 Days, from transplanting to an established leaf harvest. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Harvest clean leaves or tender stems before decline; reserve representative plants for flowering or division. Uses: Perennial or repeat-cut herb gardens, culinary leaves, flowers, and seed saving where appropriate. Flavor: aromatic or tangy flavor specific to the named herb. Seed saving: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Best uses include perennial or repeat-cut herb gardens, culinary leaves, flowers, and seed saving where appropriate. Flavor and eating quality: aromatic or tangy flavor specific to the named herb.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type West Indian Lemon Grass plants that match the expected clumping/tufted habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Compatible plants of the same species may cross to varying degrees through insects or wind. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. West Indian Lemon Grass is a perennial. Seed production may require overwintering, vernalization, or more than one growing season, depending on climate and crop biology. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Bird feeding, seedling damping-off, rusts, smuts, aphids, and lodging where stands are overly lush or exposed. Management: Use clean seed, suitable planting density, rotation, timely termination or harvest, and field sanitation. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - West Indian Lemon Grass
When is West Indian Lemon Grass ready? Use 90-99 Days. Approximately 90-99 Days, from transplanting to an established leaf harvest. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 10-21 Days at about 70–85 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 37–48 in with a clumping/tufted habit. Space plants 18 in apart and rows 30 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Large permanent container possible, but in-ground culture usually supports longer life Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
