Frankincense, Indian (Boswellia serrata), packet of 3 seeds

Family:  Myrrh (Burseraceae)

Hardy to Zones 10 to 12, otherwise grown as a potted tree and kept indoors for the winter

Deciduous tree to 45 feet tall flowering in showy sprays of yellow and red. Native to India, North Africa and the Middle East.  Source of burnable oleo-gum-resin, which exudes from any wound and dries in amber tears.  Rare in cultivation.   Tree prefers full sun and a dry, well-drained soil of pH 5.5 to 6.5.  Will withstand shallow, poor soils but grows larger in richer, deeper soils.  Fire resistant.  Resprouts readily after pruning or coppicing.  Traditional use of oleo-gum-resin and bark dates back over 2,000 years (Ayurveda): Hypoglycemic, sedative and analgesic.  Used for treating diabetes, hysteria,  lung and liver disease, also dysentery.  Used externally in treatment of ulcerations and skin diseases.  Also used as a spiritual offering as a burnable incense that clarifies the air and bolsters devotion.  Cultivation:  Standard culture for dryland tree species–soak seed in water overnight, use a fast-draining mix, plant the seed 1/4 inch deep, tamp securely and keep warm, in the light and evenly moist until germination.  Allow to grow without disturbance until the stem becomes quite woody, then up-pot, always using a fast-draining mix and providing plenty of warmth, bright light, infrequent watering.  Use Cactus mix. Start with a 4-inch pot, then go up to a gallon and finish in 3-gallon pots.  Outdoors (dry tropics), space 30 feet apart.

Packet of 3 seeds