I never knew what lemongrass looked or smelled like until a few years ago when my mom became a distributor for an essential oil company. Honestly, it is one of my favorite scents and I love the way it makes me feel. So, as I sipped on one of my favorite teas and realized it also has lemongrass in it, I wanted to take some time to learn more about this plant!
Lemongrass is one name for a large genus of plants known as Cymbopogon. Other names for this genus of plants include barbed wire grass, silky heads, oily heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, citronella grass, and fever grass. I didn’t know it had so many different names! It’s funny that lemongrass and citronella grass are in the same list because they are fairly similar!
Growing Lemongrass
This plant genus is native to Asia, Africa, and Australia, thus giving the clue as to where it will best grow. It is a plant that does well in humid areas with a lot of rainfall. It can also be grown in pots, though it is more difficult to manage and the plants may only be annuals – they only grow once and then die.
In perfect conditions, lemongrass can grow to be huge – up to six feet tall and four feet wide! When planting lemongrass, you need to be sure to leave enough space between bulbs for this kind of growth. Overcrowding the plant may lead to poor plant growth or even plant death.
While it is considered an ornamental plant, it also has culinary and magical uses. However, the budding gardener should keep in mind that lemongrass is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses!
The tea looks bubbly because of the way I put the water in the cup. I use my espresso machine’s hot water function which sort of “shoots” water out the little steamer spout 
Harvesting Lemongrass
Since it is a grass, this is one of the easiest plants to harvest for both magical and mundane uses. Start from the oldest stalks first - these have grown longer and are the best to harvest. If you start harvesting the younger stalks, the plant may end up dying or going dormant (as do other plants) because you are cutting off the fresh growth.
The most edible part of the plant is toward the bottom, so cut the leaf or stalk as far down as possible without harming the roots or the rest of the plant. Then…nothing! That’s it - you have harvested your lemongrass. Now you can use it in your cooking, in a spell, or dry it out for later!
Magickal Properties of Lemongrass
I had to do a bit of searching for this herb as the properties seem to vary from source to source. Here is a collection of correspondences I picked up from various websites all listed down at the bottom of this post!
protection
determination
willpower
self-discipline
main ingredient in Hoodoo van van oil
calming properties to soothe anxiety
mental and spiritual clarity
cleansing
Medicinal Properties of Lemongrass
According to WebMD, lemongrass has been used for a variety of medicinal issues. It is also said that lemongrass leaf and essential oil might help prevent some bacteria and yeast from growing. It also contains chemicals that might help relieve pain and swelling!
While it is not studied by modern science (as usual with herbal remedies), many people have found relief with the following medical issues:
- stomach pain
- dandruff
- high cholesterol
- gingivitis
- thrush
- bug repellant
- lice removal
Disclaimer: While working with natural remedies and herbs it is important to keep your health in mind. I am not a doctor and Spells8 is not a place for medical advice. Please be mindful of your own health and seek the care of a trained professional.
Working with Lemongrass
One of the easiest ways to work with lemongrass, in my opinion, is with tea. Steep the tea and consume it to gain the benefits of both magic and mundane. You may also use it to anoint candles, in spell bags, and so much more!
Sources and Further Reading
- Cymbopogon - Wikipedia
- How to Grow and Care for Lemongrass
- Picking Lemongrass: How To Harvest Lemongrass | Gardening Know How
- Lemongrass - Crystal Vaults
- Lemongrass: Saje's Ingredient Insights
- Ritual Herbs - Lemongrass - Rite of Ritual
I am partial to the herbs and herbal medicine 
I’m glad you liked it! I’m not too knowledgable of different herbs but I’m slowly growing my bank of information lol
gem
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