Lemon eucalyptus is a tall, slender Australian evergreen tree prized for its narrow, lance-shaped leaves that release an intensely lemon fragrance when brushed or crushed. Hardy in zones 8-11, it grows 6 to 10 feet tall in a single season when cultivated as a container plant or annual, making it surprisingly accessible even for gardeners in cooler climates who bring it indoors before winter. The smooth gray bark and yellowish-green foliage create an elegant, tropical silhouette, while the aromatic leaves offer the real draw, a fresh, unmistakable lemon scent that justifies its common name.
Full Sun
Moderate
8-11
120in H x 48in W
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High
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The lemon scent is extraordinary; simply brushing the narrow leaves releases an intensely fragrant aroma that makes this tree a sensory highlight in any garden or home. Native to Australia, Corymbia citriodora grows rapidly and tolerates drought once established, thriving in full sun with moderate moisture. In temperate zones, it's typically grown as an annual from seed or overwintered indoors as a container plant, bringing both visual elegance and aromatic joy to spaces that would otherwise be too cold for this subtropical species.
Lemon eucalyptus is grown primarily as an ornamental foliage plant and for its remarkable aromatic leaves. The foliage is valued for its intense lemon scent, making it popular as a houseplant and container specimen on patios. In regions where it cannot survive year-round outdoors, gardeners cultivate it as an annual to enjoy its distinctive fragrance and graceful appearance.
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Start seed indoors 8-10 weeks before your last spring frost to give plants time to establish before planting out. Sow seeds on moist seed-starting mix, press lightly to ensure good soil contact, and keep at warm temperatures (70-75°F) in bright light. Germination typically occurs within 2-3 weeks.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting. Plant outside after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed; in zones 8-11, this can be permanent, but in cooler regions, grow in containers that move indoors by fall. Space 24-48 inches apart if planting multiple trees in the ground.
Lemon eucalyptus naturally grows tall and slender, but you can encourage a bushier form by pinching back the stem tips early in the season. Minimal pruning is necessary, though removing lower branches will emphasize the elegant trunk and foliage structure typical of this species.
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“Lemon eucalyptus is native to Australia, where it grows naturally as a tall, broadleaf evergreen. The species has been cultivated worldwide for its distinctive aromatic foliage and ornamental qualities. Its introduction to temperate gardens is relatively recent, with gardeners discovering that while it cannot survive freezing winters outdoors in most of North America, it responds beautifully to container cultivation and can be easily grown from seed as an annual or brought indoors for overwintering.”