Pistacia lentiscus

The Mastic tree is a close relative to the nut-bearing Pistachio, Pistacia vera, and is native to the coastal shores of the Mediterranean Sea. While the Mastic tree doesn’t produce tasty nuts, it is renowned for its aromatic resin which can be enjoyed as a natural chewing gum or as a culinary spice in sweet or savory dishes, as a flavoring in beverages, or as a scent in aromatherapy. Mastic resin is produced by harvesting the sap of the Mastic tree using traditional methods of scoring the bark during the warm summer months. There is archeological evidence that Mastic has been cultivated for its resin for thousands of years.

The plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree, slowly growing up to twelve feet high and wide. Mastic trees are unique among Pistacia in that they are evergreen and do not lose their leaves during the winter months. Plants have dense, lustrous, dark green foliage that is contrasted by small, vibrant red fruit. Mastic trees are very ornamental, incredibly drought tolerant, and surprisingly cold hardy. Plants prefer full to part sun and are adaptable to many soils types so long as they are well-draining.

Cold hardy to USDA Zone 8b or to 15 degrees Fahrenheit

For sale are packets of 20 seeds