Elephant Tree Bonsai Seeds (Bursera fagaroides) - Fragrant Bursera

Elephant Tree or Fragrant Bursera

Bursera fagaroides Bonsai Seed

An interesting shrub or small "bonsai" tree, typically growing 1 to 5 feet tall but capable of reaching taller when irrigated. From a thick short trunk with white papery bark, that peals away to expose the pale green color below, come the widespread stems bearing pinnately counpound dark green leaves that have a citrus-like odor when crushed.

The greenish colored flowers, which often appear in spring, are very small and followed by a small green fruit that ripens after a time, up to a year, to split open and expose a single seed that is yellow to bright red. Plant in full sun in a well drained soil and irrigate very little - too much water and fertilizer promotes lanky unattractive growth.

This plant is drought deciduous in habitat but will also drop its leaves when temperatures drop in winter - can tolerate light frosts but temperatures below the high 20's F will result in damage.

This plant comes from northwestern Mexico, including Baja California and at least up until the mid 20th century was found growing in southern Arizona. The genus was named after Joachim Burser, a German botanist. Also called the Elephant tree.