Lemon Bush Pot Eucalyptus is a fast-growing broadleaf evergreen tree, typically grown as a garden annual, container plant, or houseplant. Colorful and fragrant, this ornamental plant has exotic long, narrow leaves with a beautiful grey-green color and a lovely lemony scent. The leaves are used to make citronella oil, so this plant is a natural insect repellent. Small clusters of tiny white flowers may appear on the plant, but only rarely, and only under optimal conditions. However, the flowers are nectar-rich and will attract pollinators.
This Corymbia citriodora (syn.Eucalyptus citriodora) variety, commonly called pot eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, lemon-scented gum, or lemon bush, will get quite large in the landscape, growing approximately 6 to 8 feet tall in one season, reaching 40 to 100 feet high in optimal conditions, unless pruned. But it makes a great container plant, outdoors or indoors; and container-grown plants stay fairly small, only reaching about 4 feet tall, especially if kept pruned. Container plants grown outside seasonally can easily be brought inside in fall to overwinter.
Lemon bush grows best in sunny locations with medium moist, well-draining soil. The plant is drought tolerant and deer resistant.
