- Hardiness
- Zones 10 to 11
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Average, about an inch a week
- Size
- 3 to 5 ft
Growing tip. Grow it as an annual in most of the country, or start new plants from grocery store stalks rooted in water.
When to plant lemongrass by zone
| Zone | Median last / first frost | When to plant | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3b | May 16 / Sep 25 | Plant outside: May 23 to Jun 27 | Too cold |
| 4a | May 12 / Sep 28 | Plant outside: May 19 to Jun 23 | Too cold |
| 4b | May 8 / Oct 1 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 19 | Too cold |
| 5a | May 3 / Oct 5 | Plant outside: May 10 to Jun 14 | Too cold |
| 5b | May 1 / Oct 10 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 12 | Too cold |
| 6a | Apr 29 / Oct 16 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 10 | Too cold |
| 6b | Apr 22 / Oct 22 | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 3 | Too cold |
| 7a | Apr 16 / Oct 25 | Plant outside: Apr 23 to May 28 | Too cold |
| 7b | Apr 5 / Nov 1 | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 17 | Too cold |
| 8a | Mar 29 / Nov 7 | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 10 | Too cold |
| 8b | Mar 16 / Nov 14 | Plant outside: Mar 23 to Apr 27 | Too cold |
| 9a | Mar 2 / Nov 26 | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Too cold |
| 9b | Feb 1 / Dec 9 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 | Too cold |
Zones 10 and warmer have little or no frost. There, plant cool-season plants in fall and warm-season plants from late winter.
Similar herbs
DillFull sun · Grown as an annual in every zoneRosemaryFull sun · Zones 7 to 10Common thymeFull sun · Zones 5 to 9Greek oreganoFull sun · Zones 5 to 9Garden sageFull sun · Zones 5 to 8French tarragonFull sun · Zones 4 to 8
More for your zone: zone 10 herbs.
Frequently asked questions
What zone does lemongrass grow in?
Lemongrass is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11. Elsewhere it is grown as an annual. Find your zone by ZIP code.
How much sun does lemongrass need?
Full sun. Full sun means at least six hours of direct sun a day; part shade means about three to six.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.