Mastic Tree
Pistacia lentiscus
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen,H. Zell,H. Zell,Giuseppe Frizzi,Gideon Pisanty ( Gidip ) גדעון פיזנטי,SABENCIA Guillermo César Ruiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,TealBeluga,Júlio Reis ( Tintazul )
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Anacardiaceae
- Genus:
- Pistacia
- Species:
- Pistacia lentiscus
- USDA Symbol:
- PILE5
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 800 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- red, green
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Splendid Royal Moth (Citheronia splendens)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire; well-adapted to Mediterranean fire regimes.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Mediterranean regions; tolerates drought
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from warm water soaking before cold stratification. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI