Is Lemon Grass a Perennial?
Lemon grass is a perennial when grown in climates similar to which it is native (India and Sri Lanka). In the United States, these climates are primarily located in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11, which have minimum temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Does this Spark an idea?
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Colder Climates
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You can grow lemon grass outdoors as an annual in colder climates, or you can grow the plant in a container indoors as a perennial. One option is to maintain an indoor perennial and each spring take some root clumps and plant them outside after the last frost.
About Lemon Grass
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Lemon grass is an herb and ornamental grass that has two distinct species: East Indian (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and West Indian (Cymbopogon citratus). It has arching, light green leaves that are about 3 feet long and 1 inch wide. The herb is often used in Indian and Asian cooking.
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Growing Lemon Grass
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Lemon grass grows best in well-drained, sandy soils in temperatures of 64 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit with 80 to 100 percent humidity. However, lemon grass can sometimes tolerate conditions outside that range. For example, it grows successfully in high temperatures of 70 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 to 60 percent relative humidity.
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