Lemongrass is a tropical plant that is classified as an herb. It is grown in many regions of the world and has become increasingly popular among gardeners, chefs, and lovers of natural remedies because of its wonderful therapeutic qualities. You may have seen images of flowering lemongrass and be wondering, ‘does lemon grass flower?’ This article will explain why lemongrass is unlikely to flower in the US.
Flowering Lemongrass
Lemongrass has the botanical name cymbopogon citratus and is a type of grass that originates from southern Asia and India. It can be grown as an ornamental plant, but does not flower very often. Lemongrass is used for culinary and medicinal purposes and does flower in the right climate but does not flower very often in the US.
It is possible to grow lemongrass from seeds, but it may take years for the plant to flower. Lemon grass produces small flowers that are white, light pink, or green, depending on the stage of growth. The flowers look similar to blooms on other grass species.
Lemon grass flowers grow on tall stems which are slightly taller than the rest of the grass. The buds start pink and open to form cream or white flowers with five petals. The flowers will begin to form in the late summer, and the buds will open in the fall in warmer climates.
If you want your plants to flower, you’ll need to live in a tropical climate with good weather year-round. You may be able to encourage flowering by growing your lemongrass in a greenhouse or hot house.
It’s also worth noting that once lemongrass begins to flower, its taste will change, and the stems will become more fibrous and unpalatable. For this reason, most people don’t want to encourage their plants to flower.
Why Lemongrass Rarely Flowers
There are several reasons why flowering lemongrass might be rare in the United States. One factor is that lemongrass tends to grow very rapidly and is typically harvested before it has a chance to flower.
It also may be that the region where you live does not offer the right conditions for lemongrass to flower, as this plant needs a tropical or subtropical climate in order to thrive.
Most plants produce flowers which turn into seeds in order to reproduce. However, lemongrass is able to create new plants via underground tubers, which spread and grow new clumps. As they are able to reproduce without producing seeds, the plants flower less often.
After lemongrass has flowers, it produces tan-coloured seed heads, which will dry out and turn a darker brown. The seeds can easily be harvested and used to grow new plants. Lemon grass is generally easy to grow and germinates quickly. If you harvest the seeds in the fall, you’ll need to wait until the following spring to plant them so that the growing conditions are optimal.
Conclusion
Whether you are growing lemongrass in your garden or using it in your cooking, you may be disappointed if flowering lemongrass is not something you will see very often. However, there are many other benefits of this versatile herb that make it worth growing even without its flowers. For example, lemongrass has a pleasant lemon scent and can be used to impart a subtle flavor to dishes of all kinds. It can also be brewed into a tea, or used in its essential oil form for aromatherapy practice.
If you are looking for an easy-to-grow plant that does not require much attention and offers many benefits, lemongrass is certainly worth considering as an addition to your garden or kitchen.