Eucalyptus citriodora 'Lemon Scented Gum'

Eucalyptus citriodora is a beautiful, fast growing species with sword shaped leaves that have an amazing citrus fragrance when crushed. A distinguishing attribute, the essential oils mainly consist of 80-90% citronella, used in perfumery, potpourri, and as an insect repellent. In summer and autumn, feathery white flowers appear, making it a good source of food for honey bees.
An extremely versatile variety that makes a wonderful bouquet addition, it can be grown as an annual from seed if started early. The plants have a good branching form produces loads of stems that are perfect for flower arranging and can also be dried for later use.
The stems contain plenty of that wonderful citrus-spice fragrance, which at outdoor events will help keep insects at bay. Nothing looks quite as ravishing on reception tables like a thick runner of eucalyptus leaves. Intersperse candles and blooms throughout to heighten the effect.

Eucalyptus citriodora is a large evergreen tree in nature, its height is easily controlled with selective pruning and container size. When grown indoors it reaches to just 3 to 4ft tall. It can also be grown outdoors and is considered drought tolerant. Tolerating most soils with good drainage it is hardy to minus 5°C. Plant in a sheltered spot or bring it in before the first frost to overwinter it indoors. The smooth, white to pink or coppery coloured bark sheds in curling flakes. is used in the production of natural dyes. It gives good colours ranging from tan and yellow through to rust and red.


Weddings have been hot for greenery ever since it was dubbed the Pantone colour of the year in 2017. Simple and subtle but still statement-worthy, incorporating the colour into your wedding by way of actual plants has an organic feel and can be budget-friendly. While any form of this botanical look is just as beautiful as the next, the one we really can’t get enough of is eucalyptus. This dreamy leaf couldn’t be more diverse, it comes in a ton of shapes and varieties. Choose one or mix them together to add texture and colour. Because of its wide selection, it is very versatile, it looks just as good as a rustic wreath on your reception doors as it does framing pillars in a modern, minimalist ceremony.
Don’t be afraid to get creative. The use of eucalyptus for weddings and events extends beyond bouquets and a centerpiece. It may look simple, but there’s so much you can get away with. Replace the confetti toss with eucalyptus leaves, litter the ceremony aisle with them, create a giant backdrop from the green, or even use it as a collar for your pet or a crown for your hair. But that’s not to say its more traditional uses are to be forgotten, there’s nothing quite as gorgeous as a lush garland of eucalyptus to make statement for your ceremony entrance, and of course, an oversized eucalyptus wreath is the ultimate dreamy backdrop for all those Instagram moments.

lavish arrangement,
—and exit—with
towering over a welcome table or tied to chairs.

Sowing: Sow at any time of year.
Seeds germinate at temperatures of about 18 to 24°C (65 to 75°F), they can be slow to germinate, usually taking place between two and five weeks. Patience may be required as they may take much longer dependent on temperatures and the time of year.
A practice many growers use is to sow seed directly into containers 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) deep to allow for the eventual, vigorous root system. Eucalyptus resent root disturbance, this practice eliminates the need to transplant into pots after the first true leaves have formed.
Sow seeds about 1.3cm (0.5in) deep into pots containing a moist, well drained and sterile compost. (John Innes or 50% multi-purpose and 50% perlite or coarse grit.). Cover with sieved compost or vermiculite. Provide bottom heat if possible. and cover pots with plastic or glass to retain moisture and humidity and protect the seed. Keep moist at all times. When large enough to handle, transplant/prick out each seedling in its own pot of multi-purpose compost. Seedlings in shallow seed trays need transplanting promptly, handling them carefully by holding the seed leaves, rather than the emerging true adult leaves. Seedlings in root trainers can be left a little longer before transplanting, allowing their roots to fill the module, and then transplanting the whole plug of roots and compost in one go.

Cultivation:
Water regularly, as needed, and feed with liquid fertiliser every month, growing the seedlings on into small plants. The following spring or summer, when the plants are more robust, harden off for 10 to 14 days before planting out.
Plant them out into the garden in late summer to early autumn, giving them the winter to settle their roots into the soil before coming into active growth the following spring. Best grown in sunny sheltered spots. Cold winds are more injurious than frost.

Planting Outdoors:
Eucalyptus citriodora is not a hardy tree. It's a subtropical tree that will only withstand short periods of light frosts, to around minus 5°C. In northern European climates, we would expect most trees to be kept indoors or in a conservatory during the winter, although some can survive outside if planted in a sheltered and sunny spot. Trees that have died back in the winter have been known to come back.
If planting outdoors, water pot thoroughly and allow to drain. If planting in a lawn, remove a circle of turf 60cm (24in) across. Dig a hole twice the size of the pot and fork over the base, incorporating a handful of general fertiliser and a bucketful of planting compost. Drive in a tree stake a little off-centre. Remove the pot and tease out any matted roots. Position the tree against stake with top of root ball level with surrounding soil. Replace remaining soil, firming-in well. Secure tree to stake with adjustable strap. Water thoroughly, then once a week during the first growing season and during dry spells while the tree is establishing. Garden-grown specimens should not require regular feeding.

Container Specimens:
Grow in any good multi-purpose potting media or soil-based ones such as John Innes No 2 or No 3. Adding up to 30 percent by volume of coarse grit is often helpful. They benefit from monthly feeding with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Keep the compost moist during the growing season and reduce watering in winter. Repot every two years.
It is possible to grow a eucalyptus indoors, given enough light. They like to summer outdoors, where their fragrant half-moon-shaped leaves rustle in the breeze. Because they grow rapidly, pruning can help contain them.

Pruning:
Eucalyptus require minimal pruning if grown as a tree, removing any broken, diseased or crossing branches in late autumn or winter. For the best juvenile foliage, prune in early spring cutting back the stems to two or three buds above the base.
It may be maintained as a shrub, with juvenile foliage by stooling or pollarding it in late winter.

Foliage for Cutting:
Wait until the tips mature to avoid wilting. Eucalyptus is generally at its best late summer into autumn and winter. Harvest stems and condition by place straight into buckets of water leaving to rest preferably overnight.
Care must be taken in harvesting and handling the foliage. They are best transported as bunches in cellophane sleeves. Normal cut flower post-harvest principles of low storage temperature with higher humidity are also suitable for Eucalyptus foliage.
The foliage lasts well out of water, the stems have astonishing vase life and may also be dried for extended use.

Plant uses:
The lemon scent of this tree is so strong it's noticeable just by standing beside the tree. Crush the leaves and the lemon scent is intense, this tree is used in the production of Citronellal Oil. The scent makes this a good choice for repelling insects or an ingredient in potpourri.
The bark of Eucalyptus, particularly Euphorbia citriodora is used in the production of natural dyes. The smooth, white to pink or coppery coloured bark sheds in curling flakes. It gives good colours, usually ranging from tan and yellow through to rust and red.
Containers, Flower Arranging, Architectural, Sub-Tropical, Foliage Specimen, Insecticide, Homemade Soap, , Aromatic therapy.

Other Uses:
When crushed, the leaves produce a scented natural oil which is often used for cleaning and as a natural insecticide. Natural dyes from the leaves & bark can give pretty colours, usually ranging from tan and yellow through to rust and red. It is also used for producing paper.
The refreshing scent, that is so well-known, is a hallmark of Eucalyptus, the leaves contain essential oils that release a sweet, minty aroma when crushed or brushed against.
Popularised by social media influencers, Eucalyptus stems can be seen hanging in steaming showers where their fragrance can truly be appreciated. Add this beauty to your shower and indulge in its powerful aromatic therapy. Relax, recharge, and reinvigorate.

Origin:
Eucalyptus is native to Australia, New Zealand and adjacent islands, where eucalyptus trees occupy 80% of the forests. There are more than seven hundred species, mostly native to Australia, with a very small number found in adjacent parts of New Guinea and Indonesia and one as far north as the Philippines islands.

Nomenclature:
The genus name Eucalyptus is from the Greek eu, meaning 'good or well', and kalyptos, meaning 'covered', referring to the calyx which forms a lid over the flowers when in bud.
The species name citriodora refers to the essential oils mainly consists of about 80-90% citronella, used in perfumery, potpourri, and as an insect repellent.
It has the synonym Corymbia citrodora
Other language names refer to the trees essential oils - Eucalyptus citronné, Eucalyptus à odeur de citron, Zitroneneukalyptus, Eucalipto a profumo di limone, Eucalipto-de-cheiro-citrino, Eucalipto de olor a limon.
Many Eucalyptus, but far from all, are known as gum trees in reference to the habit of many species to exude copious sap from any break in the bark (e.g. Scribbly Gum).
Early settlers used the sap to make an alcoholic drink by cutting into the trunk and collecting the sap, which is similar to Maple syrup, the sap was used as syrup or once bottled and capped it fermented and produced a drink similar to cider, from which they get their common name of Cider Gum.

Foliage Production:
Eucalypts for foliage production are often grown in Mediterranean climates and generally grow well as long as there are no very cold winters, no late frosts which may burn new growth in spring, or excessively hot summer conditions. Windbreak protection may be required depending on the growing site, as too much wind may cause excessive rubbing of the branches and leaves damaging the grey wax on the leaf surface, or causing the breaking of branches.
The change in the plant from juvenile to mature foliage is a problem because the foliage is usually not as attractive. This can be controlled by pruning which will stimulate new juvenile growth. This new growth will be more susceptible to frost at first, so consideration should be given to the likelihood of frost when pruning.
Pruning of the trees after planting and allowing for establishment is generally started following the second year growing season, after the winter period, pruning to a height of about 1.2m (4ft). This has been found to produce the most foliage as it enables the formation of a branching framework of 2 to 3 stems, which is most suitable for future maintenance and harvesting. More severe pruning may cause stunting or even tree death, and should also be avoided with subsequent yearly pruning.
Some variation in leaf colour has been observed, with leaves being slightly darker on the sunward side, and some new growth may have a purple shade that disappears with age.