Mint
Mentha spicata
Part shadeSalt: 1 of 5
Ornamental grassExotic
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
A tall, fountain-shaped clump grass whose citrus-scented blades work as an ornamental edge and whose pale stalk bases go straight into the kitchen. It wants steadier water than most grasses.
Mature size0.6–1.8 m tall, 0.6–1.2 m spreadGrowthFastSunSun/part shadeWaterModerate
Heat: 4 of 5
Salt: 2 of 5
Drought: 2 of 5
Shade: 2 of 5
Ease of care: 4 of 5
Season
Through the Dubai year
How Lemongrass behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Avg high °C
24°
26°
29°
34°
38°
40°
42°
42°
40°
36°
31°
27°
Best planting window
Best planting window
Spring flush of new stalks
Spring flush of new stalks
Harvest the outer stalks
Harvest the outer stalks
Light regular feeding
Light regular feeding
Tidy and divide
Tidy and divide
Best planting window: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
Moderate temperatures give roots time to establish before the extremes of summer.
Spring flush of new stalks: Mar–Apr
Harvest the outer stalks: Apr–Nov
Cut stalks at ground level, trim the bulb and use the tender inner portion.
Light regular feeding: Mar–May, Sep–Nov
A balanced feed every four to six weeks supports steady regrowth.
Tidy and divide: Jan–Feb
Trim browned leaves and divide crowded clumps before spring growth.
Lemongrass is a warm-season grass, so Dubai's long warm months suit it provided the water keeps coming. New growth pushes from March, and clumps can be cut for the kitchen right through the active season. In peak summer give it mulch and some afternoon shade, because the blades brown quickly if the roots dry out. Growth slows in the cooler weeks of December and January, when you can trim back browned leaves and divide old clumps. Spring and autumn are the easiest planting windows, with moderate temperatures and time to root before the extremes.
Meet the plant
Meet the Lemongrass
Meet lemongrass, the grass you can smell before you have identified it. Brush a blade and the scent of lemon rises at once, a clean, bright note that cuts through the heavier perfumes of a Dubai evening garden. That scent is not decoration; it comes from the oils in the leaf, and it is the reason this clump is grown for flavour across southern Asia.
In form it is a tall, narrow-leaved fountain, with blades that rise and then arc over under their own length. Unlike the plumed grasses that star in autumn, it does not flower in cultivation, so its whole display is foliage: a mass of fine green lines that looks cool even in July.
The mood it sets is tropical and productive at once. Plant a clump beside the kitchen door, or mass it along a path, and a garden becomes something you cook from as well as look at. That is a rare combination, and it needs only a little more water than the rest of the grass family.
Lemongrass is that rare plant that earns its place twice. As an ornamental it is a dense, erect, fountain-shaped clump of long, fine, arching blades, tall enough to give a border height and soft enough to move in the lightest breeze. As a crop it supplies the pale, fragrant stalk bases that sit at the heart of Thai-style soups and curries, which UF/IFAS describes harvesting at ground level, trimming the bulb, discarding the tough outer leaves and using the inner stalk. NC State Extension traces it to India and Sri Lanka and notes that the leaves are strongly lemon-scented.
The technical point to understand before planting it in Dubai is water. Most of the grasses in this library are desert plants; lemongrass is a tropical one. NC State lists it as heat and humidity tolerant, with fine, clumping growth and a taste for good drainage and moist soil, so it does best where it receives regular irrigation rather than the sparse watering that suits Desert grass. In the hottest weeks, afternoon shade, a layer of mulch and a deep watering rhythm keep the clump lush rather than scorched. It is frost-tender, but Dubai's winter nights stay well above freezing, so it remains evergreen here.
Used as an ornamental, it suits tropical and edible gardens, borders, lawn edges and containers, and it is easy to multiply by dividing a clump. Remember that the blades have a prickly, sharp edge and that NC State lists the plant as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. Alongside Basil, Mint and Hibiscus it makes a fragrant, productive corner that earns its water twice over: once in beauty, once in flavour.
Design
Where to use it
Edible borderFragrant accent clumpLawn or path edgeLarge container
Put it where it gets full sun to light afternoon shade and a dependable water supply, ideally within reach of the kitchen. It works as a tall accent at the back of a tropical bed, as a line along a path where you can brush the leaves, or on its own in a large pot. Keep it away from play areas and anywhere pets chew plants, because the leaf edges are sharp and the plant is listed as a problem for cats, dogs and horses.
Basil
Basil shares the kitchen-garden role and the need for regular water, so the two can share a bed and an irrigation line.
Mint
Mint thrives on the same steady moisture and adds a second scent layer, though it spreads and is best kept in its own pot beside the lemongrass.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus supplies large flowers against the lemongrass's fine green lines, giving a classic tropical contrast in texture.
Heliconia
Heliconia's bold, upright bracts sit well against a soft fountain of narrow blades in a lush, well-watered tropical corner.
Care guide
How to grow it in Dubai
- Watering
Summer: Water deeply two or three times a week in peak heat and mulch the surface; the blades brown quickly if the root zone dries out.
Winter: Reduce to about weekly as growth slows in the cooler weeks.
Establishment: Keep evenly moist for the first month while the clump roots in.
- Soil
- Tolerates a range of soils (NC State) but does best in good drainage with steady moisture; enrich sandy ground with compost.
- Feeding
- A balanced feed every four to six weeks through the growing season, easing off in winter.
- Pruning
- Harvesting cuts the outer stalks at ground level. Trim dead and browned leaves in late winter and divide congested clumps. Wear gloves, as the blades are prickly.
- Planting
- Divide an existing clump or plant a nursery pot 60 to 90 cm apart in full sun to light afternoon shade, in March, April, October or November.
- Pests
- Generally trouble-free
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Treating it like a desert grass. It wants steady moisture and regular feeding, and a dried-out root zone browns the blades quickly.
- Cutting only the leaf tips. The pale, tender stalk base is the culinary part; cut stalks at ground level and use the inner portion.
- Planting it in a reflective, unshaded corner and leaving it dry. Give it mulch and afternoon shade in the hottest months.
- Letting an old clump fill with dead blades. Trim and divide each late winter so fresh stalks can come through.
- Putting it beside a path or a pet's run without thinking about the sharp blade edges and the pet-toxicity listing.
Extra notes
Good to know
- NC State Extension traces lemongrass to India and Sri Lanka and describes the plant as a clumping, erect perennial grass, hardy in USDA zones 8b to 11.
- Dubai's coolest month has a mean minimum of about 15 degrees Celsius, so cold damage to this frost-tender plant is not a concern here.
- UF/IFAS describes the harvest method: remove stalks at ground level, trim the bulb, discard tough outer leaves, then cut the inner portion.
- NC State records that the plant does not flower, so the display is entirely foliage, scent and form.
Toxicity: Safe to cook with, but NC State lists the plant as a problem for cats, dogs and horses, so keep animals from chewing the clump.
Pros
- Doubles as an ornamental clump and a fresh, fragrant kitchen crop
- Fountain-shaped growth gives borders height and movement
- Scented foliage releases a clean citrus note when brushed
- Tolerates heat, humidity and poor soil, with few pest problems
- Easy to multiply by dividing a clump
Cons
- Thirstier than most ornamental grasses and sulks if the root zone dries out
- Blades have a prickly, sharp edge, so plant it away from paths
- Listed as a problem plant for cats, dogs and horses
- Foliage only: NC State records that it does not flower
FAQ
Common questions
Can I grow lemongrass for cooking and as an ornamental in Dubai?
Yes. It grows as a dense, erect, fountain-shaped clump and the stalk bases are the culinary part. It needs steady water, regular feeding and some afternoon shade in summer, which suits it to an edible border or a large container more than a dry gravel bed.
How do I harvest lemongrass without ruining the clump?
UF/IFAS describes cutting the stalks at ground level, trimming the bulb, discarding the tough outer leaves and using the tender inner portion. Take the thickest outer stalks first and leave the young centre to keep growing.
How much water does lemongrass need in summer?
More than most ornamental grasses. NC State lists good drainage with moist soil, so in peak summer plan on deep watering two or three times a week, plus mulch, and expect browned blades if the roots dry out.
How do I propagate it?
NC State recommends division or seed. Division is the easy route: lift a clump in spring or autumn, split it with a sharp spade and replant the pieces at the same depth, watering well.
Is lemongrass safe around pets?
NC State Extension lists lemongrass as a problem for cats, dogs and horses, and the blades have a sharp, prickly edge. Plant it where pets cannot chew it or push through it.
Not sure how it suits your garden?
Ask about Lemongrass on WhatsAppKeep exploring
Related plants
Sources
- 1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Cymbopogon citratus
- 2. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Lemongrass
Last reviewed 2026-10-05 by Ghaf Gardens horticulture desk.
Pool + garden care
From AED 500/month
Price depends on your garden's size, pool and complexity. Prices in AED, excluding 5% VAT.