Lemongrass in Zone 11a & 11b
Cymbopogon flexuosus
Yes, lemongrass grows in zones 11a and 11b. Set out nursery plants Jan 8–Jan 15.
When to plant lemongrass in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b 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 | Jan 8–Jan 15 |
| Estimated harvest | Apr 18–Apr 25 (~100 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of lemongrass in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilJan 15–Jan 22
- RosemaryJan 15–Jan 22
- Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant)Jan 8–Jan 15
- Mexican Mint MarigoldJan 8–Jan 15
- OreganoJan 8–Jan 15
- Shiso (Perilla)Jan 8–Jan 15
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 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Lemongrass planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b 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 | Buy as a start | Feb 6–Feb 13 | May 17–May 24 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | 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 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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