Lemon-Scented Gum (E. citriodora)
Also known as: Corymbia citriodora
What's special about Lemon-Scented Gum (E. citriodora)
Strong lemon fragrance; smooth white bark. Large tree for warm zones.
Growing this variety
Lemon-Scented Gum (E. citriodora) follows the same growing basics as Eucalyptus. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Eucalyptus family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Chill seed 4 weeks. Surface-sow, mist, cover lightly with vermiculite. Slow to establish for the first 6–8 weeks. Pinch tops to keep foliage juvenile and round.
Pre-sow treatment
4 weeks cold-moist stratification improves germination.
Grower's tip
Grown as an annual for fragrant round silver-blue leaves. Cut, condition in warm water, and use fresh or hang to dry. Most species become large trees in warm climates.
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.
Detailed harvesting
Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for eucalyptus in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Lemon-Scented Gum (E. citriodora) Eucalyptus notes
Lemon-Scented Gum (E. citriodora) Eucalyptus seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow eucalyptus from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
Loading…
Other Eucalyptus varieties
Bangalay (E. botryoides)
Year 2+Coastal gum with rough fibrous bark and durable timber. Tolerates sandy soils and salt.
River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis)
Year 2+Australia's most widely distributed eucalypt; thrives along waterways and in heavy clay.
Silver Dollar Tree (E. cinerea)
80–100 daysRound, silvery-blue juvenile leaves popular in cut-flower arrangements.
Cloeziana Gum (E. cloeziana)
Year 2+Hardy Queensland timber species with thick, rough bark.
Fuschia Gum (E. forrestiana)
Year 2+Small tree or mallee with showy red-and-yellow flowers and winged seeds.
Blue Gum (E. globulus)
Year 2+Fast-growing giant; classic blue-green adult leaves and white flowers.
Long-Leaved Box (E. goniocalyx)
Year 2+Rough-barked box with long, glossy adult leaves and cream flowers.
Flooded Gum (E. grandis)
Year 2+Tall, fast-growing timber and pulp species; prefers moist, fertile soils.
Cider Gum (E. gunnii)
Year 2+Cold-hardiest eucalypt; juvenile blue foliage is prized for cutting.
Large-fruited Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon subsp. megalocarpa)
Year 2+Pink to red flowers and large woody gumnuts.
Australian Tallowwood (E. microcorys)
Year 2+Dense, durable timber tree with stringy red-brown bark.
Shining Gum (E. nitens)
Year 2+Very fast growth; smooth white bark and glossy green leaves.
Snow Gum (E. pauciflora)
Year 2+Cold-hardy alpine gum with beautiful white-and-grey mottled bark.
Round-leaved Snow Gum (E. perriniana)
Year 2+Distinctive round juvenile leaves that clasp the stem; very cold tolerant.
Red Box (E. polyanthemos)
Year 2+Silvery-grey foliage and red fibrous bark; good cut foliage.
Silver-Leaved Mountain Gum (E. pulverulenta)
80–100 daysPowdery silver-blue leaves on a smaller, shrubbier gum.
Baby Blue Eucalyptus (E. pulverulenta 'Baby Blue')
80–100 daysCompact, heavily branched form ideal for florists and containers.
Swamp Mahogany (E. robusta)
Year 2+Tolerates wet, poorly drained soils; rough bark and red timber.
Red Ironbark (E. sideroxylon)
Year 2+Hard, dark ironbark timber; pink, red, or white flowers.
Manna Gum (E. viminalis)
Year 2+Tall white gum with long, ribbon-like strips of bark.