Lemongrass is a perennial culinary herb, grown for the flavor it brings to the kitchen, ready to harvest about 100 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 10 through 11 and stands up to deer.
Zones
10-11
pH Range
4.3-7.3
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
100
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What Lemongrass is
Lemongrass grows as a perennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms green in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Lemongrass
Lemongrass grows in USDA zones 10 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 100 days after planting. Lemongrass does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.3 to 7.3, on well-drained ground. It needs around 3,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
10-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.3 - 7.3
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
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Drainage
well (dry spells)
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Frost Tolerance
64.4°F
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Days to Maturity
100 days
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GDD Required
3000+
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Mature Height
4 ft
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Frost-Free Days
120+
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Start the season right
Plant lemongrass in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Lemongrass prefers pH 4.3 to 7.3 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Lemongrass is ready about 100 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Snip sprigs as you need them — regular cutting keeps the foliage tender and slows it bolting to flower.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — lemongrass isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Lemongrass isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Lemongrass thrives
Lemongrass is hardy across USDA zones 10 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 10–11·Where Lemongrass growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Lemongrass can grow in these states:
See if Lemongrass will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether lemongrass actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Lemongrass in my zone?
Lemongrass grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Lemongrass take to grow?
Lemongrass is ready to harvest about 100 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Lemongrass?
Most growers plant lemongrass after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Lemongrass need?
Lemongrass needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Lemongrass need?
Lemongrass prefers soil pH 4.3 to 7.3, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Lemongrass attract pollinators?
Lemongrass isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Lemongrass safe for pets?
Lemongrass is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.