Citronella Grass is a plant native to the regions of South and Southeast Asia. It is widely cultivated in Indonesia, as well as in southern India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. In Indonesia, this plant has long been trusted by the community for maintaining fitness and as a traditional medicinal plant. The main content in Citronella Grass is citronella. Citronella extract can also be used to repel mosquitoes.

This plant can survive in areas with hot or cold air, up to an altitude of 1,200 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.). The average rainfall is 1,300–2,000 mm/year, the optimum temperature is 18–25ºC, and it requires full sunlight intensity without shade. It prefers fertile, loose soil, rich in organic matter, with a soil pH ranging from 4.5–6.

• Root (Akar) Fibrous root system with a short rhizome.

• Stem (Batang) Erect, forms a clump (tussock).

• Leaves (Daun) Simple (single). The leaf sheath is cylindrical, the inner surface is red, the tip is ligulate (tongued), up to 70–80 cm long and 2–5 cm wide.

• Flower (Bunga) Compound inflorescence, stalked, generally whitish-green in color. It has 3–6 stamens and 2 stigmas (pistil heads).

• Propagation uses shoots or rooted tillers (anakan), taken from a mature plant clump (minimum 1 year old).

• Harvesting time is after the plant is 4–8 months old.

• Treats sinusitis or respiratory disorders, acts as a diuretic (promotes urine flow), a sudorific (promotes sweating), an expectorant (removes phlegm), a mouthwash, a body warmer, a remedy for the common cold (masuk angin), and an appetite enhancer.

• Essential oils (limonene, eugenol, methyleugenol, citronellal, geraniol, citronellol, α-cubebene, camphene, myrcene, sabinene).