Eucalyptus citriodora

Eucalyptus citriodora makes a lovely fragrant container plant for growing on the patio or indoors, where you can easily sample its intense lemon-scented foliage. Although it is a fast-growing and very tall evergreen tree in the wild, it can easily be restricted in a container and kept as a compact and bushy shrub by simply pruning the branches each year to encourage a fresh crop of silvery-green, egg to lance-shaped juvenile leaves.  The foliage is used to produce citronella oil and when crushed, it emits an intense citrus aroma.

This half-hardy shrub should be grown in a container and brought under cover over winter although it may survive in the open border in very mild, coastal, frost-free climates. It makes a lovely addition to a sensory garden or Mediterranean-themed area.

If left unpruned and growing in the open ground:

Height: more than 12m (40ft). Spread: more than 8 m (26ft).

However, plants can easily be kept to the desired size with routine trimming in the spring.