East Indian Lemongrass

Sold as clippings and as a live plant. Annual in this region unless you bring it inside.

East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), also called Cochin grass or Malabar grass, is native to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand.

In India, lemongrass is used both as a medical herb, in perfumes, and consumed as a tea for anxiety.

One study found the tea may exert an erythropoiesis boosting effect.

In Hoodoo, lemongrass is the primary ingredient of van van oil, one of the most popular oils used in conjure. Lemongrass is used in this preparation and on its own in hoodoo to protect against evil, spiritually clean a house, and to bring good luck in love affairs.

In beekeeping, lemongrass oil imitates the pheromone emitted by a honeybee’s Nasonov gland to attract bees to a hive or to a swarm.