Tanglad (Cymbopogon citratus)

About Tanglad

Tanglad, known internationally as lemongrass, is a tall perennial grass prized for its intense citrus aroma and versatile uses in cooking, traditional medicine, and pest control. Scientifically classified as Cymbopogon citratus, it belongs to the Poaceae (grass) family — the same family as rice, sugarcane, and bamboo. In the Philippines, tanglad grows in nearly every province, from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, thriving in the tropical heat that many temperate herbs cannot tolerate.

The plant forms dense clumps of strap-like leaves that can reach 1 to 1.5 meters tall. Each leaf blade is blue-green, rough-edged, and emits a distinctive lemon-like scent when bruised or crushed. The edible portion is the swollen, pale-white stalk base — the bottom 10 to 15 centimeters — where the essential oils concentrate most densely. Filipinos have cultivated tanglad for generations as a backyard herb, harvesting stalks for soups, teas, and grilled dishes year-round.

Beyond the kitchen, tanglad is one of the most practical plants for Philippine urban gardens. Its citronella oil content makes it a natural mosquito deterrent, a significant advantage in dengue-prone metro areas. A single clump, once established, requires minimal care and produces enough stalks for daily household use while also serving as an attractive ornamental grass border.

History & Discovery

Lemongrass originated in tropical South and Southeast Asia, with its center of diversity in the Indian subcontinent. The genus Cymbopogon was described by German-born botanist Kurt Sprengel in 1815, though the plant had been used for centuries across Asia long before formal botanical classification. The species name citratus reflects its pronounced citrus fragrance — from the Latin word for lemon-scented.

In the Philippines, tanglad has deep roots in folk medicine and everyday cooking. Pre-colonial Filipinos used the leaves to brew fever-reducing teas and added the stalks to fish and meat preparations to mask strong odors while imparting a clean citrus flavor. During the Spanish colonial period, tanglad was documented among the herbal remedies described by Fray Ignacio de Mercado in his 1686 manuscript on Philippine medicinal plants. The Department of Health now includes tanglad in its list of recommended herbal plants for community health programs, recognizing its traditional use for relieving minor digestive complaints and mild febrile conditions.

How to Plant Tanglad in the Philippines

Tanglad is one of the easiest herbs to propagate in the Philippines. It is almost exclusively grown from stalk divisions — seed propagation is unreliable because C. citratus rarely flowers in tropical lowlands. Here is how to start your own tanglad patch:

1. Source healthy stalks. Obtain divisions from a mature clump — each division should have 3 to 5 stalks with intact root nodes at the base. Fresh palengke tanglad can also root if the base is not trimmed flat. Look for stalks with visible root nubs or a slightly bulbous base.
2. Trim the foliage. Cut the leaf blades to about 15 to 20 centimeters in length. This reduces moisture loss while the plant establishes new roots. Remove any dry or damaged outer sheaths from the stalk.
3. Root in water (optional). Stand trimmed stalks in a jar with 5 centimeters of water submerged. Place in bright indirect light and change the water every 2 days. Roots appear within 7 to 14 days. This step is optional for divisions that already have roots.
4. Prepare the planting site. Choose a location with full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Dig a hole 15 centimeters deep and mix in compost or aged manure. Space plants 60 to 90 centimeters apart, as lemongrass clumps expand rapidly.
5. Plant the division. Set each division 5 to 8 centimeters deep. Firm the soil around the base to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly until the soil is evenly moist.
6. Establish with consistent watering. Water daily for the first two weeks until new growth appears. Reduce frequency to every 2 to 3 days once the plant is established. Tanglad is drought-tolerant once rooted but produces more stalks with regular moisture.
7. First harvest. Harvest outer stalks when they reach at least 30 centimeters tall and 1.5 centimeters thick at the base. Cut at soil level with a sharp knife or twist and pull firmly. First harvest is typically 90 to 120 days after planting.

Care Guide

Sunlight

Tanglad thrives in full sun — a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. In the Philippine setting, position clumps along south- or west-facing garden edges where sunlight is strongest. Tanglad tolerates partial shade but produces thinner stalks with less aromatic oil concentration. Full sun exposure yields the most robust growth and the strongest citrus scent.

Watering

Water deeply every 2 to 3 days during the dry season (March to May). During the rainy months, natural rainfall is usually sufficient. Allow the top 3 centimeters of soil to dry between waterings — tanglad dislikes constantly waterlogged roots. Established clumps are remarkably drought-tolerant and can survive on rainfall alone, though stalks may become fibrous during extended dry spells.

Soil

Tanglad adapts to a wide range of Philippine soils but performs best in well-draining loamy or sandy loam soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Mix in generous amounts of compost or aged carabao manure to improve fertility and drainage. Heavy clay soils found in some Metro Manila lots should be amended with rice hull ash or coarse sand to prevent waterlogging around the root zone.

Humidity & Temperature

As a tropical grass, tanglad is perfectly suited to Philippine conditions. It thrives at temperatures between 25°C and 35°C and tolerates the high humidity (70 to 90 percent) typical of Metro Manila year-round. Growth slows slightly during the cooler amihan months (December to February) but does not stop. Tanglad has no cold-hardiness issues anywhere in the Philippines.

Fertilizer

Apply balanced fertilizer (14-14-14) once a month during the growing season, broadcasting a handful around the base of each clump. Alternatively, side-dress with compost or vermicast every 6 to 8 weeks. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer encourages lush leaf growth but may dilute essential oil concentration — for maximum aroma, avoid over-fertilizing and let the plant grow at a moderate pace.

Pruning

Cut back the entire clump to 15 centimeters above ground level once a year, ideally at the start of the rainy season (June). This rejuvenates growth, removes dead or yellowed outer leaves, and stimulates the production of fresh tender stalks from the center of the clump. Use a sharp bolo and wear gloves — tanglad leaf edges are razor-sharp and can cause deep cuts.

Growing Medium Options

Edible & Medicinal Uses

Tanglad is one of the most versatile herbs in Filipino cuisine and traditional medicine. The edible part is the tender white-to-pale-green stalk base — the bottom 10 to 15 centimeters after peeling away the tough outer layers.

Culinary Uses

• Tanglad tea (salabat-style). Bruised stalks steeped in boiling water — served hot or iced, often with honey and calamansi. One of the most popular herbal teas across the Philippines.
• Inihaw na isda. Whole tanglad stalks stuffed inside the belly of grilled tilapia or bangus, perfuming the fish with citrus aroma as it cooks over charcoal.
• Tinola and sinigang. Stalks added to soup bases alongside luya (ginger) for a fragrant, clean-tasting broth.
• Marinades and sawsawan. Finely minced tanglad mixed with vinegar, soy sauce, and sili for grilled meat dipping sauces.
• Southeast Asian curries. The stalk base is pounded into Thai and Vietnamese curry pastes — tom yum, laksa, and rendang all feature lemongrass prominently.

Medicinal Uses

The Department of Health lists tanglad among recommended herbal plants for community health. Traditional Filipino uses include:

• Tea for relieving stomach cramps, gas, and mild indigestion
• Warm compresses using boiled tanglad water for mild muscle aches
• Steam inhalation for nasal congestion and mild colds
• Anti-fever tea — a longstanding folk remedy, though clinical evidence is limited

Note: Tanglad is a traditional herbal supplement, not a replacement for professional medical treatment. Consult a physician for persistent or serious symptoms.

Nutritional Profile

Tanglad is notably high in iron and manganese. While the stalk itself is not consumed in large quantities (most dishes use it for flavoring), tanglad tea extracts meaningful amounts of these minerals and aromatic compounds into the brew.

Air Quality & Insect Repellent Properties

Tanglad is best known for its insect-repellent properties rather than air purification. The essential oil, primarily composed of citral (65 to 85 percent), citronellal, and geraniol, is a proven deterrent against Aedes aegypti — the dengue-carrying mosquito prevalent throughout the Philippines.

While growing tanglad near windows and outdoor seating areas provides some ambient deterrence, the most effective repellent application comes from crushing fresh leaves to release volatile oils or from extracted citronella oil used in candles, sprays, and lotions. DOST-PCIEERD has supported research into commercial-grade citronella oil production from Philippine-grown Cymbopogon species.

As a grass species, tanglad contributes modestly to oxygen production through photosynthesis. Dense clumps of tanglad along garden borders serve as living windbreaks that filter dust and airborne particulates — a practical benefit in polluted Metro Manila neighborhoods near major roads.

Toxicity & Safety

The sharp, razor-like leaf edges of tanglad are a physical hazard. Always wear gloves when handling or pruning clumps to avoid deep cuts. Position tanglad away from walkways and play areas where children or pets might brush against the foliage.

Common Pests & Diseases in the Philippines

Tanglad is one of the most pest-resistant plants in the Filipino garden — its citronella oil content repels most common insects. However, a few issues can arise:

• Rust fungus (Puccinia spp.). Orange-brown pustules on leaf surfaces during prolonged wet weather. Remove and dispose of affected leaves. Improve air circulation by thinning overcrowded clumps. Rarely requires fungicide treatment.
• Leaf blight (Helminthosporium spp.). Brown lesions that spread along leaf blades during the wet season. Cut back affected leaves and allow the clump to dry out between waterings. Avoid overhead irrigation.
• Mealybugs. White cottony masses at the base of stalks, especially in overcrowded clumps with poor air circulation. Remove by hand or spray with neem oil solution. Dividing overcrowded clumps is the best long-term prevention.
• Grasshoppers and locusts. Occasionally feed on leaf blades during dry-season outbreaks. Damage is usually cosmetic and does not affect stalk quality. No treatment needed unless infestation is severe.

The best pest management strategy for tanglad is preventive: maintain proper spacing (60 to 90 centimeters between clumps), divide every 2 to 3 years to prevent overcrowding, and remove dead leaf litter that harbors fungal spores during the rainy season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

• Plants of the World Online — Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. powo.science.kew.org
• Stuart, G.U. (2024). Philippine Medicinal Plants — Tanglad. stuartxchange.org
• USDA FoodData Central — Lemongrass (citronella), raw. fdc.nal.usda.gov
• ASPCA — Lemongrass toxicity to cats and dogs. aspca.org
• Department of Health (Philippines) — Recommended Herbal Plants. doh.gov.ph
• DOST-PCIEERD — Research on Philippine essential oils including citronella. pcieerd.dost.gov.ph