Vetiver

Chrysopogon zizanioides Poaceae

Growth habit

Grass/Sedge

Native distribution

Tropical India

Biocultural value

Dried roots yield an essential oil that has a sweet, earthy, woody scent that is widely used in the perfume industry. It is also used to enhance the flavor of canned asparagus.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

WW Granger

Description

To 180cm or over. Stems robust, upright, simple, densly clumped. Leaves linear, to 90 x 1cm, rigid, margins scabrid; sheaths glabrous. Inflorescence lanceolate-oblong, to 45cm, condensed; racemes to 8cm, slender; spikelets to 0.5cm, awnless; lower glume tough, minutely spiny beneath.

USDA Hardiness Zone

10

Special characteristics

other ethnobotanical uses, tender perennial