Plants

lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf

Family: Poaceae · Genus: Cymbopogon

Placenta I Low Mulch biomass 🪓 Coppices after cutting

Perennial aromatic grass (1–1.5 m) forming dense clumps. Lemon-scented leaves (citral). Permanent cover between tree rows in syntropic systems, mosquito repellent, essential-oil source. Drought-tolerant; prefers full sun.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Low
Strata: Low
Biomass class: Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: High
Soil pH range: 5–7.5
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
Hardiness zones: 10–13

Morphology

Mature height: 1–1.5 m
Recommended spacing: 0.5–1 m
Root system: Fibrous
Root depth: Shallow
Growth rate: Fast
Lifespan: 4–10 years

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Naturalized
Cerrado Suitable
Caatinga Suitable
Amazon Naturalized

Köppen classes

Tropical rainforest (Af) Suitable
Tropical monsoon (Am) Suitable
Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Hot semi-arid (BSh) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Lemongrass takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

Dense clump spreading by short rhizomes; propagated vegetatively by division (rarely flowers outside its native habitat, setting almost no seed). Tolerates a wide range of soils and pH, prefers well-drained soil in full sun, and is frost-sensitive (mortality on prolonged exposure below ~10 °C). Citral-rich essential oil (insect repellent).

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for lemongrass?

The recommended spacing for lemongrass is 0.5–1 m.

How tall does lemongrass grow?

At maturity, lemongrass reaches 1–1.5 m tall.

What stage and stratum does lemongrass occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, lemongrass belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

Aromatic Medicinal Ground cover Pest repellent 🌿 Biomass producer

Propagation

Division

Citations

PFAF Plant Database — Cymbopogon citratus (ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, drought_tolerance, light_need, soil_texture_preference, propagation, cultivation_notes)
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Cymbopogon citratus (gbif_taxon_key, genus, family)