Lemon Eucalyptus Information
This plant is an attractive Australian native. It has sword-shaped, gray-green leaves and tiny, white flowers. The lemon eucalyptus plant, also known as lemon-scented gum, has a more pungent smell than other citrusy herbs, like lemon verbena, lemon balm, and lemon thyme. If you touch a leaf, the air is infused with the super-strong scent of lemon. In fact, if you’ve ever burned a citronella candle, don’t think it is scented with real lemon fragrance. Rather, it is made with oil from lemon eucalyptus bush leaves.
Lemon Eucalyptus Plant Care
If you are thinking of growing lemon eucalyptus, you need to learn about lemon eucalyptus plant care. It isn’t a very difficult plant to grow. You can grow the herb as an annual or a perennial. The plant in the wild is a broad-leafed evergreen bush or tree that can live a long time. Alternatively, you can grow it in a pot as an herb. Whichever way you want to grow the plant, you have to learn how to care for lemon eucalyptus plants. You can start growing lemon eucalyptus outside if you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and higher. Be sure you have enough room, however. One way to limit the size of the plant is to grow it in a container. If you are growing lemon eucalyptus in a pot, the herb will not get taller than four feet (1 m.). These plants have shallow roots and resent root disturbance, so grow them in containers before you set them outside. However, in windy areas you need to plant them in their permanent locations while they are still fairly young to make sure they do not suffer from wind rock. Think sun for the lemon eucalyptus. Don’t plant this herb in the shade or it will die. It will accept almost any type of soil, including nutritionally poor soil. Still, lemon eucalyptus plant care is easiest if you plant it in well-draining soil. You’ll have to provide regular water for the first years. After the tree is established, it is drought tolerant.
Lemon Eucalyptus Uses
It’s not difficult to describe possible lemon eucalyptus uses. Generally, gardeners like growing lemon eucalyptus for its ornamental qualities and for the fragrance of its leaves. In addition, however, it can be grown as a bee crop. The bush flowers are rich in nectar and excellent for attracting bees.
