Tender Perennial

Lemongrass, (Cymbopogon citratus) Tender perennial

Lemongrass is an attractive lemon-scented plant that grows in a large clump like fashion. It is an easy to grow herb that is wonderful in the landscape or for use in the kitchen. It is a key ingredient in Thai and Vietnamese foods.

This perennial is from India and Sri Lanka and forms a clump similar to many ornamental grasses in gardens everywhere. It's narrow blue-green leaves shoot up to 3 feet from the plant's onion like base and are tough textured with razor sharp edges. The late season flower panicles can add another 2 feet, but only gardens with subtropical conditions are likely to ever see them. It is the hollow stems that are most often used in cooking.

Give lemongrass full sun and organically rich, moisture retentive soil. To get started, buy a small potted division, and plant it the same depth it was growing. If you plant it in a pot, be sure it is a least 12-14 inches across. Here in the Texas Hill Country it grows to about 3 feet wide and 3 feet high! Lemongrass is high in vitamin A and the essential oil is enclosed in special cells that can be seen as translucent lines when a leaf is held up to the light. It will withstand temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees if heavily mulched. It is drought resistant and heat tolerant. Harvest lemongrass by cutting low to the ground or pulling off a sheath from the base of the plant. Use caution in handling to not get a cut from its sharp edges. Cut it back drastically in early winter. You can always dig up a clump to pot up for the winter.

In Jamu, the ancient herbalism practiced in Indonesia and parts of Malaysia, lemongrass tea is used to combat depression and bad moods. In Indonesia it is called sereh, and even though nowadays modern medicine is favored over Jamu, it is not unusual to smell the flowery citrus aroma of the herb in your lunchtime soup in Jakarta.

Aromatherapists use essential oil of lemongrass to create a cheerful and elevated mood. It is sometimes combined with lavender and rose geranium, also in essential oil form, and mixed with grapeseed oil or olive oil for a rejuvenating massage. To try it, mix 4 drops of essential oil of lemongrass, rose geranium and 6 drops of lavender in a quarter cup of grapeseed, or olive oil. Then massage onto your arms, legs, feet and ears.

When chefs get together to eat, they often like to identify the individual flavors in the dishes they're served. Lemongrass is one ingredient that can stump even the most expert of chefs. It tastes lemony, but what throws people off is that lemongrass is not the least bit acidic, but is actually very floral. It is rarely used alone in cooking, but is usually combined with other herbs and flavors. Use the tender parts of the leaves and the white bulb in soups, game, salads, veggies and breads.

Be sure to visit our recipe pages for a delicious Lemongrass and Potato Soup recipe!

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Coriander, Cilantro was our herb of the month in September 2007. CLICK HERE

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis
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Basil, Ocimum basilicum
Basil was our herb of the month in July 2007. CLICK HERE

Epazote, (Chenopodium amborsiodes)
Epazote was our herb of the month in June 2007. CLICK HERE

Sage, (Salvia species)
Sage was our herb of the month in May 2007. CLICK HERE

Lavender
Lavender was our herb of the month in April 2007. CLICK HERE

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis
Our herb of the month in March 2007. CLICK HERE

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis
Our herb of the month in February 2007. CLICK HERE

Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa
Our herb of the month in January 2007. CLICK HERE

Ginger, Zingiber officinale
Our herb of the month in November 2006. CLICK HERE

Chamomile, Roman or German Chamaemelum nobile or Matricaria recutita
Our herb of the month in October 2006. CLICK HERE

Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus
Our herb of the month in September 2006. CLICK HERE

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Our herb of the month in August 2006. CLICK HERE

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Our herb of the month in June 2006. CLICK HERE

Lemon Verbena, Lippia citriodoro
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Scented Geranium, (Pelargonium species)
Our herb of the month in April 2006 and Herb of the Year 2006 . CLICK HERE

Mexican Mint Marigold, (Tagetes Lucida)
Our herb of the month in March 2006. CLICK HERE

Rose, Rosa Species
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Laurus nobilis
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Herbs of the Bible
Our herb of the month in Decembers 2005. CLICK HERE

Sage, (Salvia species)
Sage was our herb of the month in November 2005. CLICK HERE

Lemongrass, (Cymbopogon citratus) Tender perennial
Lemongrass was our herb of the month in October 2005. CLICK HERE

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
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Borage was our herb of the month in August 2005. CLICK HERE

Basil, Ocimum basilicum
Basil was our herb of the month in July 2005. CLICK HERE

Scented Geranium, Pelargonium species
Parsley was our herb of the month in May/June 2005. CLICK HERE

Parsley, Petroselinum sativum
Parsley was our herb of the month in March/April 2005. CLICK HERE

Rose, Rosa Species
Rose was our herb of the month in February 2005. CLICK HERE

Arugula, Roquette, Eruca vesiceria sub, sativa
Arugula was our herb of the month in January 2005. CLICK HERE

Calendula, Pot Marigold, Calendula officinalis
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Winter Savory, Satureja Montana
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Lemon Verbena
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Mint
Mint was our herb of the month in July 2004. CLICK HERE

Hoja Santum
Hoja Santum was our herb of the month in June 2004. CLICK HERE

Lavender
Lavender was our herb of the month in May 2004. CLICK HERE

Thyme
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