Elephant Tree
Boswellia papyrifera
- Native to:
- Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan-South Sudan, Uganda
Mauro Raffaelli,Mauro Raffaelli,Luigi Balugani (www.wikidata.org),Jan Nyssen,Sjschen (en.wikipedia.org) at English Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org),,Hoefer, M. (Jean Chrétien Ferdinand), 1811-1878. n 86804206,Smithsonian Institution Flint, James Milton, 1838-1919 Beyer, Henry Gustav, 1850-1918 Royal College of Surgeons of England,Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Holmes, Edward Morell University of Glasgow. Library,Eichler, August Wilhelm, 1839-1887.,Holmes, E. M. (Edward Morell), 1843-1930,Jaccoud, Sigismond François (dir.)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Burseraceae
- Genus:
- Boswellia
- Species:
- Boswellia papyrifera
- USDA Symbol:
- BOPA11
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick bark provides fire resistance; resprouts from trunk and branches after fire damage. Adapted to dry woodland fire regimes.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid, rocky regions; prefers dry conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Fresh seeds germinate readily; viability declines rapidly with storage. Requires warm temperatures for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI