Lemongrass in Zone 10a & 10b
Cymbopogon flexuosus
Yes, lemongrass grows in zones 10a and 10b. Set out nursery plants Feb 6–Feb 13.
When to plant lemongrass in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Buy as a start: Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside. It's slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Feb 6–Feb 13 |
| Estimated harvest | May 17–May 24 (~100 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of lemongrass in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilFeb–Aug
- RosemaryFeb–Apr
- BorageJan 30–Feb 6
- Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant)Feb 6–Feb 13
- Mexican Mint MarigoldFeb 6–Feb 13
- Pineapple SageFeb 6–Feb 13
Lemongrass is a tender, clumping tropical grass grown for its intensely lemon-scented stalks, familiar from Thai and Vietnamese cooking. It's hardy only in zones 9-11, which means most gardeners grow it as a container plant, moved indoors before the first frost rather than left in the ground.
How lemongrass fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Lemongrass needs about 100 days from transplant to first harvest.
Lemongrass planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9a & 9b | Buy as a start | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Jun 2–Jun 9 |
| 10a & 10b (your zone) | Buy as a start | Feb 6–Feb 13 | May 17–May 24 |
| 11a & 11b | Buy as a start | Jan 8–Jan 15 | Apr 18–Apr 25 |
Harvest dates are about 100 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
No well-established companions for lemongrass.
Where to buy lemongrass starts
Lemongrass is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded. Check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing lemongrass" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Lemongrass in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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