Baby Citro

A compact and highly ornamental form of the iconic Lemon-Scented Gum, Baby Citro*TM  brings all the charm of its towering parent in a garden-friendly size. Known for its smooth, powdery white to pale grey bark and long, slender lemon-scented leaves, this stunning small tree adds year-round elegance to any landscape. Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil and is highly drought tolerant once established. Perfect for residential gardens, street plantings and smaller landscape projects where a refined, low maintenance native is required.

Position: Full sun for at least 6 hours a day; choose a warm, sheltered spot protected from strong wind and frost.

Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5). Enrich with compost before planting and avoid heavy, waterlogged clay.

Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, especially during flowering and fruiting — deep water 2–3 times a week in warm weather, less in cooler months. Avoid letting the root ball dry out completely, particularly in pots.

Climate: Thrives in warm temperate to subtropical climates; frost-sensitive, so protect or move potted specimens indoors/undercover over winter in cooler regions.

Container growing: Ideal for pots given its dwarf/compact habit — use a large container (400mm+) with good drainage holes and a quality citrus or general-purpose potting mix.

Spacing: If planting in ground, allow around 1–1.5 metres from other plants or structures.

Planting depth: Plant at the same level as the nursery pot; avoid burying the graft union (the bump near the base of the trunk).

Fertilising: Feed with a citrus-specific fertiliser in early spring, late spring and autumn; dwarf varieties in pots benefit from a diluted liquid feed monthly during the growing season.

Mulching: Apply a light layer of mulch around the base, kept clear of the trunk, to retain moisture and suppress weeds.