Cymbopogon citratus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-boh-POH-gon sih-TRAY-tus
- Description
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Strongly scented lemon leaves used in India and Southern Asian cuisine; overwinter as a container plant but do not let it dry out. This plant tolerates a range of soil types. The plant oils are used for perfumes and herbal medicines.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cymbopogon
- Species:
- citratus
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Flavoring in cuisine
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- India and Sri Lanka
- Edibility:
- Leaves for flavoring
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- This plant does not flower.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Humidity
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Slugs
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
