Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Fruit
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Asia
Types
Sorghastrum nutans
Avalon Lemon, Bears Lemon, Buddha's Hand, Bush Lemon, Citron
Number of Varieties
350
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
Mixed deciduous forest, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-99-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
12-1
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm120.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Lemon yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, occasional watering once established
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Generally pruned to waist height, pruning needed for strong structure, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Doesn't require fertilization when grown in rich soil
Pests and Diseases
Insects
Aphids, Grasshoppers, Leafminers, Red blotch, Rust, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
Drought, Drought and Salt
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
Diarrhea, Hyperacidity, Sore Throat, Whooping Cough
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Glowing Skin, Maintains teeth healthy, Making cosmetics, Nourishes scalp, Perfumes, Skin inflammation
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen, Insect Repellent, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Acne, Antibacterial, Antirheumatic, Appetizer, Bone strength, Digestion problems, Hangover, Healthy teeth, Nutrients, Obesity, Oral health, Skin irritation
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Bark, Fruits, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Air freshner, Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves are used as mosquito repellent, Making Perfumes, Preferably used as black tea, Used as a nutritious food item
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
SORGHASTRUM nutans
CITRUS limon
Common Name
Indian Grass
Lemon
In Hindi
भारतीय घास
नींबू
In German
Indian Grass
Citrone or Limone or Zitrone
In French
Herbe indienne
Citron or Citronnier
In Spanish
Hierba india
Limón or Limonero
In Greek
Ινδικό Grass
Λεμόνι [Lemóni]
In Portuguese
grama indianas
Limão
In Polish
Indyjski Trawa
Cytrynowy
In Latin
Indian Grass
Limon
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Sapindales
Family
Poaceae
Rutaceae
Genus
Sorghastrum
Citrus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
950
1
27800
👆🏻