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Plant · P-910
Frankincense
Boswellia sacra
Frankincense is a small, multi-stemmed tree of dry mountain slopes and desert woodland from the Horn of Africa to Oman. Cuts in the bark release an aromatic oleo-gum-resin, harvested year-round and traditionally cut in the hottest, driest months, then burned as incense, distilled into oil for perfumery and skin care, or chewed as a food flavoring. It grows in full sun on shallow, well-drained, rocky or sandy ground and tolerates long spells without rain once established.
Record at a glance
Growing profile
- Sun
- Full Sun
- USDA zone
- USDA 10–11
- Soil
- Sand · Loam
- Moisture
- Dry · Well-Drained
Vertical layer
Sub-Canopy- Soil pH
- 7.9–8.5
- Plant type
- Deciduous Tree
- Mature height
- 13.1–19.7 ft
- Mature spread
- 16–20 ft
- Plant spacing
- 29.5–39.4 ft
- Root type
- Fibrous-shallow
- Spread pattern
- Seed
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The deeper layer
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- Primary
- Locked ecological function
- Secondary
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- Byproduct
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Behind the record
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