Growers and Collectors of Aloe, Cactus, Succulent & Caudiciform Plants

Between the aromatic leaves and sap, and the gorgeous peeling bark, Bursera fagaroides has to rank among my very favorite “Fat Plants” This plant comes from northwestern Mexico, including Baja California and at least up until the mid 20th century was found growing in southern Arizona. (bursera fagaroides is now protected in Arizona)

B. fagaroides is basically a shrub or small tree with a very short, thick, trunk and wide spreading branches. From the family: Burseraceae, the genus was named after Joachim Burser, a German botanist. Also called the Elephant tree, the dried sap of some of the species is sold as frankincense.

Bursera fagaroides is one of the most common Bursera of Mexico, typically growing 1 to 5 feet tall but capable of reaching taller when irrigated. Because of its swollen trunk and cold/drought tolerance they make a very nice bonsai specimen. Their bark is a very attractive, reddish brown and peeling to reveal gray-green.

The Bursera fagaroides flower usually appear sometime in the spring they are very small perhaps 3/16″ across at the maximum, creamy white, borne on long stalks that may be clustered or solitary. The leaves have distinct citrus odor when crushed. The fruit is brown maturing in late fall. Newly set seeds look like a green pea around 1/4″ diameter. It takes close to a year for them to mature at which time the outer covering splits and falls away leaving the seed on the plant. The seeds when new are from a very bright yellow to a near day glow red, size is around 5/16″.

Bursera like well drained soil and full sun. Extra water in the summer is a good idea. We’re hot and dry here in Southern California except for our occasional summer storms which have been few and far between these past several years so I always make sure to check the potted plants regularly. In the ground or in a pot Bursera need very little water in the winter when they are dormant. This plant is drought deciduous in habitat but will also drop its leaves when temperatures drop in winter. In the ground plants can tolerate light frosts but temperatures below the high 20’s F will result in damage.

Until recently many mature plants were available to the potted plant enthusiasts, most nice specimens run between $50 – $95 for a smaller 2 ½”- 3” trunk, bare root import, to as much as $300 for nice specimens with 4” – 6” trunks with nice branching and established roots. We have a few specimens available in the store as well as some very nice established 2 year old cuttings that are starting to fatten up nicely.

Complete Care & Propagation Instructions for Bursera fagaroides

Finally, the Show Quality Plants Photo Gallery is now open. Current sections include the usual suspects; Succulents, Cactus, Agave, Caudiciforms, Pachypodiums, Lithops, Bromeliads, etc. I will be loading more pictures daily so keep checking back.

I am also loading two special sections for all my in-ground gardeners and hobbyists, Desert Landscapes and Bonsai & Water Gardens, that should be fun, so many choices. I will start off the xeriscapes with my own. I just finished it late Spring 2009 so it hasn’t matured yet but it is a great start if I do say so myself.

If you have a desert landscape, in ground bonsai garden or water garden feature that you would like to share with our readers you can do two things. First, and probably the best choice from an SEO aspect, you could make a comment on an existing picture within the gallery with a link or ping back to your picture on your blog or website, (I will check it out and then OK your comment) or if you do not have a horticultural blog or website you can just send me an email with your picture attached and I will just add it to the Show Quality Plants Gallery.

In the mean time have a look at the pictures I have loaded and leave your comments. If you have some time cruise on over to the Show Quality Plants Store and take a look around.