Is a Citronella Plant a Perennial?

Description

• Cymbopogon nardus is a tropical foliage plant. The long, arching leaves bend gracefully toward the ground and are grayish-green in color. Each individual blade may be as long as 3 feet. This clumping grass forms a neat mound about 6 feet tall and wide at its largest.

Culture

• Citronella grass is native to parts of southeast Asia. It is not a cold-hardy plant and will only grow as a perennial outdoors in US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12. Cold, wet weather will kill the plant. For that reason, home gardeners in cooler climates often grow it outdoors as an annual plant. Citronella grass can also be grown indoors. It will grow in containers or in the ground in full sun and moist but well-draining soil.

Uses

• Citronella plants are best used as an ornamental feature in an outdoor tropical garden. Although they do contain citronella oil and are fragrant, they will not repel insects solely by their very presence. The essential oils must be released by crushing the leaves, which can then be rubbed on the skin. Take care, however, as some people are allergic to the oil.

Considerations

• An annual geranium with scented leaves is often marketed as a "citronella plant." This is because the leaves have a scent similar to citronella. It is not a citronella plant, but a member of the family Pelargonium. If you want an alternative to citronella grass, lemon thyme (Thymus X citriodorus) is even more effective at repelling insects, according to Iowa State University Extension's website, and is much more cold-hardy.