Corymbia citriodora

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Plant
ID 513 Corymbia citriodora
Botanic Name Corymbia citriodora
Common Name Lemon Scented Gum
Family Name Myrtaceae
Cultivars syn. Eucalyptus citriodora
Origin Australia, North East Coast, Zone 9-12
Growth Type Tree
Bark Type Smooth
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Medium
No. of Species 110
Growth Habit Forest-form Growth Rate Fast
Height 30 - 40 m (100 - 133 ft) Spread 8 m (27 ft)
Plant Overview
This large tree has grey bark that peels away to reveal a creamy-white smooth straight trunk with ascending brittle branches that form an open crown. It has lemon scent mid green lanced-shaped leaves and clusters of cream flowers appear in late winter.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Linear
The 140-200 mm (7 3/4 in) long dark green oppositely arranged juvenile leaves are ovate to lanceolate with a rough and hairy texture and are up to 80 mm (3 in) wide. The adult leaves are falcate to narrow lanceolate up to 20 mm (¾ in) wide by 230 mm.
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Entire
Colour Mid green
Size 120 - 230 mm ( 4.7 - 9.1 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Campanulate
The stalked buds are clavate with a hemispherical opercula and the 12 mm (½ in) wide creamy white flowers are arranged in a terminal umbellaster that is up to 100 mm (4 in) wide with 3 to 5 blooms. They appear from winter to early spring.
Inflorescence Umbellaster
Colour Creamy white
Size 8 - 12 mm ( 0.3 - 0.5 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Grey - brown
The 8 - 15 mm (2/3 in) long urceolate to barrel-shaped capsules are light green and have a broad descending disk with 3 valves that are deeply enclosed.
Edible No
Bird Attractive Yes
Size 10 - 18 mm ( 0.4 - 0.7 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained deep sandy to heavy clay loam, moist, poor-fertile, pH 5.0-7.5
Container Not normally grown as a container plant
Climate Warm to sub-tropical
Aspect Full sun to semi-shade, open position, mildly drought, frost, salt wind tolerant
Pest & Diseases Shoot Blight (white marks on distorted young shoots), winter bronzing
Fertiliser Native slow release fertiliser when young, mulch with leaf mould and keep moist
Pruning Train to a single leader when young, remove unwanted branches back to the collar after flowering
Cultural Uses Propagation
The Lemon Scented Gum is a long-lived elegant tree that is grown for its attractive bark. It is planted in groups on lawn areas for shade or as a specimen tree in parks or large gardens. It is suitable for coastal and inland regions.
Surface sow fresh seed during spring in a well-drained media, and maintain a temperature of 16º to 18º C (61º to 64º F), germination occurs within 5-days. Prick out and pot up when they are large enough to handle.
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