Eucalyptus citriodora

Lemon-scented gum

Family: Myrtaceae · Type: shrub · Not Native

Lemon-scented gum is a naturalized shrub found in southern coastal California in disturbed coastal areas at elevations generally below 200 meters. Flowering from December to May, this plant produces white stamens in panicle inflorescences of 3 to 5 flowers. Growing to an impressive 20 to 35 meters tall with a straight, slender form, it features smooth bark that sheds in irregular pieces, initially white or golden and aging to tan. Its lanceolate leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long and emit a distinctive lemon scent when crushed. The fruit is small, less than 15 millimeters long, and urn-shaped with valves that remain enclosed within the hypanthium.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed coastal areas

Bloom period: Dec-May

Elevation: generally < 200 m

Bioregions: SCo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.