Cymbopogon citratus

Lemongrass, Barbed Wire Grass, Silky Heads, Cochin Grass, Malabar Grass

Message of the Flower

Help

The Mother’s Comment

You bring help to him who knows how to use you.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

One cannot help others to overcome their sorrows and sufferings unless one has overcome all this in oneself and is master of one's feelings and reactions.

The Mother, Some Answers from the Mother: Letters to a Young Sadhak - IX

The best way of helping others is to transform oneself. Be perfect and you will be in a position to bring perfection to the world.

The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Helping Others and the World

The best way to help the world is to transform oneself by an integral and intensive yoga.

The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Helping Others and the World

Colour

Greenish-purple

Family

Poaceae

Cultivars

No specific cultivars are widely recognized, as variation is minimal in commercially grown lemongrass.

Flower Size

The flower panicles can reach up to 60 cm in length.

Flower Texture

Delicate and feathery.

Number of Petals

Being a grass, it does not have petals in the conventional sense. Instead, it has spikelets.

Floral Symmetry

Not applicable to grass flowers.

Fragrance of Flower

The leaves have a strong lemony fragrance, not the flowers.

Leaf Texture

Rough, linear, and slightly coarse.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate, forming dense clumps.

Leaf Color

Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous plant

Life Cycle

Perennial in suitable climates.

Blooming Period

Rarely blooms; flowering is not common in cultivation.

Climate

Tropical and subtropical climates.

Water Requirements

Moderate, prefers consistently moist soil but can tolerate some drought.

Soil Type

Loamy, sandy, well-drained.

Temperature Ranges

Thrives in temperatures above 64F (18C).

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Generally resistant but can be affected by rust, leaf blight, and spider mites under stress.

Pollinators

Being wind-pollinated, it does not rely on traditional pollinators.

Habitat

Native to islands in Southeast Asia; widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides cover and habitat for small wildlife; used in traditional medicine and culinary practices.

Ornamental

Grown for its aromatic leaves and for use in landscaping as a border plant.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Natural insect repellent, biopesticide, and in the cosmetic industry.

Endangered Status

Not endangered; widely cultivated and robust.

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