Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Nepal, Southern Asia, Southern Europe
Types
Ornamental Lemongrass , Citronella, Java Citronella , East Indian Lemongrass ,
Myristica fragrans
Habitat
tropical grasslands
Cold Regions, Hills, Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
9-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green
Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Blue Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Long and slender with very sharp edges
Oval
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, From bulbs
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Keep the Soil well drained, Water Deeply
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in the growing season, Prune in the late winter or spring, Pruning may be required for height clearance, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
In Early Autumn, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost
fertilize in spring, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Anthracnose, Armillaria mellea, Blight, Caterpillars, Crown gall, Crown rot, fungus, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Heat And Humidity
Drought, Frost
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Bees
Aphids, Bees, Beetles, Caterpillar, Small mammals
Allergy
lung problems if inhaled in excess, starts menstrual flow
Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache, Pollen
Aesthetic Uses
Wild gardens
-
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Brightens the skin complexion, Provides herbal hair care
Good for skin and hair
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
Cough, High blood pressure, High cholestrol, Soothing and relieving pain, Sore throat, Stomach spasms, Vomiting
Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms, Thoat infection
Part of Plant Used
extracted oil, Leaf Stalks, Leaves, Shoots
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Condiment, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as a condiment
Making deodorants, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in mosquito repellents, Used as a laxative, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for making soaps, Used in biomass
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Groundcover
Botanical Name
CYMBOPOGON citratus
Myristica fragrans
Common Name
Lemon Grass, Lemongrass
Nutmeg
In German
Zitronengräser
Muskatnuss
In French
Cymbopogon
noix de muscade
In Spanish
Cymbopogon
nuez moscada
In Greek
lemongrass
μοσχοκάρυδο
In Portuguese
Cymbopogon
noz-moscada
In Polish
Palczatka
gałka muszkatołowa
In Latin
lemongrass
nutmeg
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Genus
Cymbopogon
Myristica
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Andropogoneae
Myrteae
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Myrtoideae
Importance of Lemongrass and Nutmeg
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lemongrass and Nutmeg. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lemongrass and Nutmeg as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Lemongrass is Cough, High blood pressure, High cholestrol, Soothing and relieving pain, Sore throat, Stomach spasms and Vomiting whereas of Nutmeg is Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms and Thoat infection. Lemongrass has beauty benefits as follows: Acne, Brightens the skin complexion and Provides herbal hair care while Nutmeg has beauty benefits as follows: Acne, Brightens the skin complexion and Provides herbal hair care.
Compare Facts of Lemongrass vs Nutmeg
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Lemongrass vs Nutmeg and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Lemongrass are lung problems if inhaled in excess and starts menstrual flow whereas of Nutmeg have Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache and Pollen respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lemongrass has no showy fruits and Nutmeg has no showy fruits. Also Lemongrass is not flowering and Nutmeg is not flowering . You can compare Lemongrass and Nutmeg facts and facts of other plants too.