East Indian Lemongrass

East Indian Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) is a towering, intensely aromatic tropical grass prized for its bold, upright architectural presence and the bright, clean citrus fragrance released abundantly from its long, strap-like leaves. Taller and more cold-tolerant than its culinary cousin West Indian Lemongrass, East Indian Lemongrass produces especially high levels of citral — the essential oil compound responsible for its vivid, concentrated lemon fragrance — making it the preferred variety for herbal tea, aromatherapy, culinary applications, and natural insect repellent.

Cultivated from Professional Grade root systems with an organic heritage, this impressive ornamental herb serves double duty as a striking landscape grass and a productive culinary and wellness plant. Its bold, fountain-like clumps of glaucous blue-green foliage make a dramatic architectural statement in sunny borders, tropical garden compositions, and large containers on patios and decks. Harvest young stems and leaves freely throughout the season for fresh teas, cooking, and homemade citronella-style natural repellents.

Why You'll Love It

• Intensely Aromatic Culinary & Wellness Herb: High-citral aromatic leaves are prized for fresh and dried herbal teas, lemongrass-infused cooking, aromatherapy, and as a fragrant natural insect-deterring companion plant in the garden.
• Bold Architectural Landscape Presence: Towering blue-green strap-leaf clumps deliver dramatic vertical structure and tropical flair in sunny borders, large containers, and mixed ornamental-edible garden compositions.
• Heat & Drought Tolerant: Thrives in intense heat, humidity, and periods of drought once established — an ideal performer in hot-summer gardens and water-wise edible landscape designs.
• More Cold-Hardy Than West Indian Varieties: Cymbopogon flexuosus demonstrates improved cold tolerance over the common culinary lemongrass, extending its useful growing range into cooler climates.
• Continuous Harvest Through the Season: Snip fragrant leaves freely from late spring through fall for fresh culinary use, teas, and dried herbal preparations — the more you harvest, the more vigorous and productive the plant becomes.

These 4" healthy live plants thrive in full sun — at least 6–8 hours daily — in well-draining, fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Water regularly and consistently; lemongrass appreciates even moisture during active growth. A heat-loving tropical herb: plant outdoors after all frost danger has passed. In USDA Zones 9–11, East Indian Lemongrass performs as a perennial. In Zones 7–8, it may overwinter with heavy mulching; in Zones 6 and below, grow in large containers and overwinter indoors in a sunny location. Harvest outer stalks and leaves throughout the season. Cut back hard in early spring before new growth emerges.