Lemongrass in Zone 9a & 9b
Cymbopogon flexuosus
Yes, lemongrass grows in zones 9a and 9b. Set out nursery plants Feb 22–Mar 1.
When to plant lemongrass in zone 9b
Zones 9a and 9b 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 22–Mar 1 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 2–Jun 9 (~100 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 9b
These go outside within two weeks of lemongrass in zone 9b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilMar 1–Mar 8
- BorageFeb 15–Feb 22
- RosemaryMar 1–Mar 8
- DillFeb 8–Feb 15
- Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant)Feb 22–Mar 1
- Garlic Chives (Chinese Leeks)Feb 22–Mar 1
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 9's season
Zone 9b's frost-free window runs about 293 days, from February 15 to December 5. Lemongrass needs about 100 days from transplant to first harvest.
Lemongrass planting windows in every zone
Zone 9b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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)
← Back to the full zone 9b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Lemongrass in USDA zone 9b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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