Clumps of citronella grass
Also known as nardus, nard grass or mana grass, citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) is an aromatic grass. A native of southeast Asia, the robust, clum-forming tropical grass can be identified by its coarse leaves and distinct fragrance. The grass resembles lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), which also belongs to the Cymbopogon genus. Does this Spark an idea?
Appearance
Citronella grass is a large tropical grass that grows to be between 5 to 6 feet tall. Unlike many grass species, such as many used for lawns, citronella grass does not spread by running roots. The grass grows in large, mounded clumps that gradually increase in size. The grass has canelike stems and coarse, grayish green leaves that are approximately 3 feet long and an inch wide. Citronella grass has a lemonlike fragrance that increases when the leaves are crushed.
Aroma
Citronella grass contains citronella, an essential oil that is commonly used as an insect repellent, though it is also used in soaps and perfumery. Like other essential oils, citronella oil is mixed with a carrier oil such as vegetable oil before it is rubbed on the skin. Individuals with sensitive skin may experience dermatitis after coming in contact with the concentrated oil of the plant. The fragrance of the grass is quite strong and can be smelled even at a distance of several feet.
Location
Citronella grass hails from southeast Asia, where it is cultivated commercially in Sri Lanka, India and Burma, among other locations. The grass has naturalized in tropical locations across Asia, and may be encountered in warm, frost-free environments in the United States such as southern Florida and southern California. Citronella grass only grows as a perennial in USDA zones 10 to 12. It requires a long, frost-free growing season in order to survive.
Lemon Grass
Lemon grass is very similar in appearance to citronella grass. Lemon grass is also a frost-tender, tropical grass that grows in large, fragrant clumps. Lemon grass, however, is smaller than citronella grass, growing to an average height of 2 to 3 feet. The plant has arching leaves that are a bright, lighter shade of green than those of the citronella plant. Naturally, lemon grass smells more like lemons and less like a citronella candle than citronella grass.
Tags: Citronella grass, citronella grass, tropical grass, fragrance grass, grass Cymbopogon, grass that, grass that grows