Eucalyptus citriodora Myrtaceae Hook. - World Agroforestry Centre

Eucalyptus citriodora 

lemon-scented gum 

LOCAL NAMES 

Amharic (shito bahir zaf); Arabic (kafur limuni); English (spotted 

gum,lemon-scented iron gum,lemon-scented gum,lemon-scented 

eucalypt,lemon gum); French (eucalyptus a odeur de citron); German 

(Zitronen- Eukalyptus); Luganda (kalintusi); Spanish (citriodora); Swahili 

(mkaratusi); Trade name (lemon-scented gum); Vietnamese (b[aj]ch d[af]n 

d[or]) 

BOTANIC DESCRIPTION 

Eucalyptus citriodora is a large, handsome evergreen tree, 24-40 (max. 

50) m in height; tall, straight trunk, 60-130 cm in diameter; open, graceful 

crown of drooping foliage; bark smooth, white, powdery, sometimes pink, 

red or blue-grey, on large trunks dark or grey and shaggy. 

Juvenile leaves alternate, ovate to broadly lanceolate, sometimes setose, 

petiolate, sometimes peltate; adult leaves alternate, lanceolate to narrowly 

lanceolate, 8-16 x 0.5-2 cm, acuminate, strongly lemon scented when 

crushed; petiole 13-20 mm long. 

Inflorescence terminal and compound or axillary and simple; umbels 3 

flowers; flower buds white, clavate; operculum hemispherical, 3-4 x 4-5 

mm, apiculate. 

Fruit ovoid or urceolate, 7-15 x 7-11 mm, often warty, with 3-4 deeply 

induced valves; seeds few, irregularly elliptical relatively large, shiny, 

black, 4-5 mm long. 

The genus Eucalyptus was described and named in 1788 by the French 

botanist l’Héritier. The flowers of the Eucalyptus species are protected by 

an operculum, hence the generic name, which comes from the Greek 

words ‘eu’ (well) and ‘calyptos’ (covered). The specific epithet means 

lemon-scented. 

BIOLOGY 

E. citriodora is cross-pollinated, and the pollinating agents are usually 

blow flies, ants and, in particular, bees. The periodicity of reproduction of 

E. citriodora seems to be altered when it is planted outside its natural 

range. In Australia, it bears seed only every 3-5 years, while it fruits 

abundantly every year when grown as an exotic species in Brazil. 

Agroforestry Database 4.0 (Orwa et al.2009) 

Hook. 

Myrtaceae 

Round urn fruit at Hobdy collection, Maui, 

Hawaii (Forest and Kim Starr) 

Round urn fruit at Hobdy collection, Maui, 

Hawaii (Forest and Kim Starr) 

Bark at Keanae Arboretum, 

Maui, Hawaii (Forest and Kim Starr) 

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ECOLOGY 

E. citriodora grows naturally on rolling undulating plateaux, including dry ridges, in open forest and woodland, generally 

on poor soils, from 80 to 800 m altitude. The species can survive a severe dry season. 

In its natural range, the species is restricted to the central and northern coast of Queensland, with the main occurrence 

between Mackay and Maryborough, where it extends from the coast to over 200 miles inland. It is also common on a 

limited area of the higher and drier country near Atherton. The climate is tropical to subtropical and frost free near the 

coast, or with light frost inland at the higher altitudes. The main rainfall season is summer. 

BIOPHYSICAL LIMITS 

Altitude: 0-1600 m, Mean annual temperature: 17-24 deg. C, Mean annual rainfall: 650-1600 mm 

Soil type: It is tolerant of a variety of soils. Commonly found on poor, gravelly soils, Podsols and residual Podsols of 

lateritic origin, and prefers well-drained but somewhat gravelly subsoils. 

DOCUMENTED SPECIES DISTRIBUTION 

Native: 

Exotic: 

Australia 

Albania, Algeria, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, India, Italy, Kenya, Libyan 

Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tunisia, 

Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zimbabwe 

Native range 

Exotic range 

The map above shows countries where the species has been planted. It does neither 

suggest that the species can be planted in every ecological zone within that country, 

nor that the species can not be planted in other countries than those depicted. Since 

some tree species are invasive, you need to follow biosafety procedures that apply to 

your planting site. 


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The map above shows countries where the species has been planted. It does neither 

suggest that the species can be planted in every ecological zone within that country, 

nor that the species can not be planted in other countries than those depicted. Since 



some tree species are invasive, you need to follow biosafety procedures that apply to 

your planting site. 



PRODUCTS 

Apiculture: E. citriodora is a favourite of beekeepers because of the high quality and quantity of honey produced. 

Honey produced is light amber. 

Fibre: The tree is planted as one of the better eucalypts for producing pulp in low-altitude areas of tropical and 

subtropical regions. 

Timber: The wood density is 785-990 kg/cubic m at 12% mc. The wood is heavy, strong, tough and resistant to 

termites. The heartwood is light brown to grey-brown and sometimes waxy to the touch. The sapwood is whitish, pinkish 

or cream, usually 25-60 mm wide, but the width varies with growth rate. The grain is straight to interlocked, forming a 

ribbon stripe when quarter-sawn; a fiddleback pattern is sometimes evident. The timber is used for general construction, 

bridges, railway sleepers and ties, flooring, poles, sporting goods, agricultural implements and tool handles. 

Essential oil: The commercially important eucalyptus oil distilled from the leaves of this and other Eucalyptus species 

has medicinal and industrial uses. 

Medicine: The oils are used with steam and other preparations as an inhalant to relieve colds and influenza symptoms. 

Because of the refreshing odour of the oil and its efficiency in killing bacteria, it also finds application as antiseptic. 

SERVICES 

Reclamation: E. citriodora is planted for reforestation. 

Ornamental: It is cultivated in Australia, Brazil and North Africa for beautification. 

Intercropping: Studies in Nigeria suggest that beans are incompatible with E. citriodora, but maize and sorghum may 

be compatible. Addition of fertilizer can offset to an extent the depressive effects of E. citriodora on crops. 


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TREE MANAGEMENT 

Plantations can be established at a regular spacing of 3-4 m, but a spacing of 3 x 2 m is also practised. A mature tree 

is able to compete with weeds, although when young, good weed control (usually a 1m strip along each planting line) is 

essential, and 4-5 weedings each year for 2 years may be necessary before site occupancy is achieved. Growth is 

usually rapid, and subsequent management depends on the purpose for which the trees are being grown. If grown for 

pulpwood, the trees may be harvested after 6-10 years. Plantations grown for saw logs will require thinning. 

GERMPLASM MANAGEMENT 

Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Viability is lost within 3 years in hermetic storage at room temperature with 13 + 

or - 2% mc. Hermetic storage at 4-6% mc and subzero temperatures is recommended. There are 140 000-220 000 

seeds/kg. 

PESTS AND DISEASES 

E. citriodora, when young, is liable to attack by termites, but it is attacked less by atta ants than most eucalyptus. It 

resists attacks by the Gonipterus beetle. 


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FURTHER READNG 

Anon. 1986. The useful plants of India. Publications & Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi, India. 

Bekele-Tesemma A, Birnie A, Tengnas B. 1993. Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia. Regional Soil Conservation Unit 

(RSCU), Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA). 

Boland DJ, Brophy JJ, House APN. 1991. Eucalyptus leaf oils, use, chemistry, distillation and marketing. 

ACIAR/CSIRO. INKATA Press. Melbourne. 

Boland DJ. et. al. 1985. Forest trees of Australia. CSIRO. Australia 

Hills WE, Brown AG. 1984. Eucalyptus for wood production. CSIRO/Academic Press. Sydney. 

Hong TD, Linington S, Ellis RH. 1996. Seed storage behaviour: a compendium. Handbooks for Genebanks: No. 4. 

IPGRI. 

ICRAF. 1992. A selection of useful trees and shrubs for Kenya: Notes on their identification, propagation and 

management for use by farming and pastoral communities. ICRAF. 

Igboanugo ABI. 1988. Effects of some Eucalyptus on yields of Vigna unguiculata L., Zea mays L. and Sorghum bicolar 

L. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment. 24(4):453-458. 

Katende AB et al. 1995. Useful trees and shrubs for Uganda. Identification, Propagation and Management for 

Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish International Development 

Authority (SIDA). 

Mbuya LP et al. 1994. Useful trees and shrubs for Tanzania: Identification, Propagation and Management for 

Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish International Development 

Authority (SIDA). 

Soerianegara I, Lemmens RHMJ (eds.). 1993. Plant Resources of South-East Asia. No. 5(1): Timber trees: major 

commercial timbers. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden. 

Streets RJ. 1962. Exotic forest trees in the British Commonwealth. Clarendon Press, Oxford. 

Webb DB, Wood PJ, Henman GS. 1984. A guide to species selection for tropical and sub-tropical plantations. Tropical 

Forestry Papers No. 15, 2nd edition. Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford University Press. 

Williams R.O & OBE. 1949. The useful and ornamental plants in Zanzibar and Pemba. Zanzibar Protectorate. 

SUGGESTED CITATION 

Orwa C, Mutua A , Kindt R , Jamnadass R, Simons A. 2009. Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide 

version 4.0 (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/) 


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Eucalyptus citriodora Myrtaceae Hook. - World Agroforestry Centre

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