Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon Scented Gum) seeds

Attractive, slender tree with smooth, powdery white bark and long narrow leaves which contain a lemon scented oil and are great for cutting. Best grown as a pollarded plant, ie. cut back to 1 to 2 ft of stem each spring, so that the foliage is young and fresh each year. In fact, the more it is cut back, the more stems it will produce the following year! Needs frost protection when young. Also makes an excellent pot plant for a cool room.

Hardy Tree (to -5C)
Height: to 12m
Position: Sun or semi-shade

Packet of 25 seeds

GROWING GUIDE

Sowing Instructions: Sow at any time of the year. Sow very thinly on the surface of a moist seed compost in pots or trays. Do not cover the seed. Seal in a polythene bag and place in the fridge or other cold place between 2-5C for 5 weeks. Then, move to a propagator or leave in the sealed bag and maintain an optimum temperature of 21C. Germination can be slow and erratic but should occur after 14-90 days. As the seedlings emerge, pot up individually into 8cm pots taking care to disturb the rest of the compost as little as possible.

Growing Instructions: Grow on in cooler conditions until late spring when they can be moved to a coldframe or plunged in the pots up to their rims in a sheltered spot outdoors. (Note: provide protection from wildlife and slugs & snails.) When well established, plant out in late spring/summer in full sun, in a sheltered spot away from drying winds. Wrap up well with fleece or sacking for the first 2 winters in cold areas. Cut back hard very spring to produce a robust plant and maintain the young foliage interest.

Note: This seed may come mixed with quite a lot of chaff – sow the whole lot together.