Japanese name: レモンユーカリ Scientific name:Eucalyptus citriodora
[Overview]
An evergreen tree about 20 m tall.
The bark peels off in scales, leaving a smooth white to pale bluish-gray surface. The twigs hang down.
Juvenile and adult leaves differ in shape. Juvenile leaves are opposite, oblong-lanceolate and hairy. Adult leaves are alternate, lanceolate, 10–18 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide, glossy and pale green to grayish white.
The flowers are borne in groups of 3–5, with the petals and calyx fused into a cap that falls off when the flower opens. The flowers have no petals and have many white stamens. In its native range it flowers in June–July.
The fruit is urn-shaped, 7–8 mm across.
[Uses]
The leaves have a strong lemon scent when rubbed, and an essential oil can be obtained from them.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed. It prefers fertile ground but is highly drought tolerant. Its cold hardiness is somewhat weak, so it should be planted where there is no frost. It grows quickly.
