What is Lemongrass?
There are many related species of the herb lemongrass, all of which are in the grass family, Poaceae. East Indian and West Indian lemongrass are popular names for Cymbopogon flexuous and Cymbopogon citratus respectively. Lemongrass is an evergreen, native to Southeast Asia, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Australia. So-called West Indian lemongrass may have originated in Malaysia. Description. The narrow foliage of lemongrass ranges from blue-green to gold, and the flowers are white, cream, or green. C. flexuous grows to a height of eight feet (2.4 m), while C. citratus ranges from about three to five feet (.9–1.5 m). Gardening. Lemongrass prefers moist soil and full sun. It can be propagated by dividing the root clump. Lemongrass leaves can be dried or frozen. Dried leaves need rehydration before use. Information differs on whether the bulbous stem end, the leaves, or both should be used and how, so consult a recipe for the use you have in mind to see what it recommends. Food
