Mastic tree
Pistacia lentiscus · Anacardiaceae
📷 Giuseppe Frizzi · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around mastic tree and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- April to May, small discreet flowers
- Adult size
- Up to 3 m in height
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Mediterranean, tolerates moderate cold
- Origin
- Mediterranean basin
- Soil type
- Well-drained, poor to average
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Mastic tree loves dry, poor soil. In rich soil or with regular watering, it becomes etiolated and more sensitive to cold.
The common mistake
Overloading it with fertilizer or water 'just in case': that's the opposite of what it needs.
The pro's trick
In borderline climates (-2°C), use it in pots with heavy drainage that you can bring inside during the harshest winters.
Care
Watering
The mastic tree is very tolerant of drought once established. Water regularly during the first year after planting to encourage root development. After that, reduce watering considerably: only very dry and prolonged summers require additional water.
Light exposure
Plant your mastic tree in full sun to bring out its full potential. It tolerates heat and arid exposures well. A sunny location also optimizes its growth and the production of its small aromatic leaves.
Soil
The mastic tree prefers well-drained, calcareous or neutral soils, and tolerates poor and rocky ground. Avoid winter waterlogging by improving drainage if necessary. It's a plant perfectly adapted to Mediterranean soils.
Pruning and maintenance
Pruning is not essential but can be done after flowering to maintain a compact shape. Prune lightly to encourage branching and a denser silhouette. Dead wood should be removed regularly.
Fertilizer
The mastic tree requires practically no fertilizer. A light application in spring is sufficient if the plant seems weakened. On rich soils or in containers, diluted and low-nitrogen fertilizer at the start of the season is more than adequate.
Diseases and pests
The mastic tree is a very robust plant, rarely affected by diseases in its natural environment. However, monitor excessive winter moisture which could cause fungal problems. Good air circulation and optimal drainage prevent most issues.
Did you know?
The mastic tree is famous for producing mastic, an aromatic and antimicrobial resin harvested since ancient times on the Greek island of Chios. In the Mediterranean, this resin is traditionally chewed like natural chewing gum and is used in the composition of many cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. The small berries of the mastic tree were also used for the production of dyes and oils in ancient civilizations.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Staghorn sumacRhus typhina
- Smoke treeCotinus coggygria
- Peruvian peppertreeSchinus molle
- Chinese pistachePistacia chinensis
- PistachioPistacia vera
- Mt. Atlas mastic treePistacia atlantica
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.