{"product_id":"native-lemongrass-cymbopogon-ambiguus","title":"Native Lemongrass - Cymbopogon ambiguus","description":"\u003cp\u003eNative Lemongrass (\u003cem\u003eCymbopogon ambiguus\u003c\/em\u003e) is a clumping Australian grass that grows to about 1m tall and 60cm wide, with very fine, hair-like green-grey leaves that carry a lemon scent. It thrives in full sun, poor soil and long dry spells, and it binds banks and revegetation plantings as readily as it settles into a bushland garden. Despite the name it is an ornamental native grass, not the culinary lemongrass used in the kitchen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for dry, poor ground.\u003c\/strong\u003e It grows in full sun and in dry, impoverished soils, and the roots survive drought once the plant is established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLemon scented foliage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Brush past a clump and the citrus scent rises, which makes it a natural for paths, courtyards and sensory gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA good bank binder.\u003c\/strong\u003e That is why it turns up in erosion control and revegetation projects, from slopes to verges and roadsides.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn authentic bushland look.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine grey-green clumps with seedheads like strands of barbed wire add texture beside broader leaved natives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow maintenance.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established it needs very little beyond one tidy up in late winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSlopes, banks and verges.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 50cm apart in staggered rows. The clumps knit together to hold the surface, and the fine leaves keep a bank looking natural rather than engineered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative and bushland gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in drifts of five or more at 50cm spacing, or scatter single clumps through other natives for a loose, informal effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevegetation and dry sites.\u003c\/strong\u003e Across large areas, tube stock is the economical way to cover ground. It copes with the hot, dry, exposed positions where many plants fail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaths and sensory spaces.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set a few clumps beside a path or seat so passers-by brush the leaves and release the scent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Native Lemongrass in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun. The roots survive drought once the plant is established, but young plants need protection from frost, so in cooler areas plant in spring and shelter them through their first winter. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi arid gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry and impoverished soils are fine, including sand, gravel and shallow ground. Rich soil is unnecessary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply each week through the first summer so the roots go down, then leave it to the weather. In poor soil it does not need fertiliser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Chop off the old seedheads and any tired leaves in late winter to make room for fresh spring growth. That is the only job it needs each year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Native Lemongrass as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tubes are the economical choice for banks, verges and large plantings, while the 140mm pots give a more developed clump from day one. Plants travel upright and settle quickly in warm soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grasses-and-strappy-leaf\"\u003eBrowse our grasses and strappy leaf plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-natives\"\u003eMore Australian native plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-retaining-walls\"\u003ePlants for retaining walls and slopes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/ornamental-grasses-a-guide-to-lush-garden-design\"\u003eOrnamental grasses for Australian gardens, a design guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it the same as the lemongrass I cook with?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Native Lemongrass is a different species, grown as an ornamental and revegetation grass. Its leaves are fine and hair-like, so buy culinary lemongrass separately for the kitchen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant 50cm apart for a dense mass planting that knits together, or up to 1m apart for a looser, more natural look among other natives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen do I cut it back?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn late winter, remove the old seedheads and any tired leaves. This clears space for new spring growth and keeps the clump neat, and no other pruning is needed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":67787205706047,"sku":"CYM-AMB-tube","price":21.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":67787205738815,"sku":"CYM-AMB-140MM-P10","price":319.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/native-lemongrass-cymbopogon-ambiguus.jpg?v=1792152120","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/native-lemongrass-cymbopogon-ambiguus","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}