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