Eucalyptus citriodora (lemon scented gum)

Viable seeds / kg (approx.): 470,000

Minimum purchase: 25 g

Description

E. citirodora is native from Australia. It is a large tree, usually with a straight trunk, which can reach heights of
40 m. The bark is smooth throughout. The leaves are rich in citronella oil, hence the name,
and have been used in perfumery.

Uses

The wood is resistant, hard and heavy, of moderate natural durability
and easy to work, from light brown to grayish brown. It is used in heavy
construction, structural timber, poles and firewood but is not suitable for
pulp. It has also been planted as ornamental and for the production of
citronella oil.

Environmental
conditions

This species is found naturally from 75 to 800 masl, with mean annual
rainfall of 650-1300 mm and prolonged dry periods of up to 7 months in some
localities within its range. As an exotic, it has been planted in climates with
annual rainfall of 800 mm and dry seasons of 4-5 months, although it prefers
sites with higher precipitation. It tolerates a wide variety of sites, but it has
shown problems when planted at less than 100 masl in the humid tropics.

Soils

The species grows in a wide variety of soils, but in plantation for
productive purposes, deep, well-drained, moist soils of high average fertility
are preferred.

Seeds and nursery

It does not require pre-germination treatments. Due to the small size of
the seeds, germinators should be used, with a loose substrate such as river sand,
well washed and disinfected, in which the seed is placed superficially, ensuring that it is not too piled up.
Germination occurs in a period of 5-12 days, reaching conditions for transplanting
1-2 weeks after germination. The root is usually very long, so it must be
pruned to about 3 cm in length. When transplanting, be sure to make a hole deep
enough in the substrate to avoid curving up of the roots. Shade should be
provided for the first 2-3 weeks after transplanting, for instance using shade
clothing (saran) 50%. The plants will be ready
for field planting after 3 - 4 months or when they have a height of 15 to 20
cm. A couple of weeks before planting out in the field it is recommended
to reduce watering to stimulate the lignification of the stems.

Growth

For sawmill production, initial spacing should be at least
3 x 3 m. For production of firewood, posts or tutors, high densities (up to
5000 trees / ha or more) are used, generally with spacing arrangements from 1 x
1 m to 2.5 x 3 m. Trees grow rapidly in the first
years, with mean annual increments of 3.2-3.4 m in height.