Eucalyptus citriodora

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Eucalyptus citriodora

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Kemper Code: A508

Common Name: lemon-scented gum
Zone: 8 to 11
Plant Type: Tree
Family: Myrtaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: Queensland
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: Rarely flowers
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Unknown

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-11 where plants are grown in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates drought. In the St. Louis area, it is usually grown from seed as a container plant, a houseplant or a garden annual. Container plants can be placed on patios or sunk into the ground to the lip, but must be brought indoors in fall before first frost for overwintering.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Native to Australia, lemon-scented gum is a tall, slender, broadleaf evergreen tree that will grow 60-100’ tall in its native habitat. Features smooth gray bark and narrow lance-shaped yellowish-green leaves (to 7” long) that are lemon-scented. Small white flowers in 3-flowered umbels. Flowers rarely appear on young trees or container plants. In the St. Louis area, it may be grown as an annual from seed, typically growing rapidly to 6-8’ tall in one growing season.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses:

Garden annual. Container plant. Houseplant.