Mastic Tree Information Learn About Mastic Tree Care

Mastic tree care starts with proper placement. If you plan on growing a mastic tree, plant it in a full sun location. It also requires well-drained soil, and occasional deep irrigation is an important part of its care. You'll also need to prune this tree early in order to help it form a strong branch structure.

What does a mastic tree look like?
What does mastic tree produce?
How tall do mastic trees grow?
Is mastic tree poisonous?
Can you eat Mastic berries?
Do mastic trees have invasive roots?
Why is mastic expensive?
Does mastic gum kill good bacteria?
What can I use instead of mastic?
What are the side effects of mastic gum?
How do you prune a mastic tree?
Are mastic trees deciduous?

What does a mastic tree look like?

Also known as Evergreen Pistache, this drought and heat tolerant plant features bright green, glossy leaves on smooth reddish branches. Mastic can be shaped into a small, rounded patio-sized tree or left unpruned to grow as a large, dense shrub.

What does mastic tree produce?

Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree), from the Mediterranean region, produces mastic, a varnish used for coating metals and oil and watercolour pictures. It is one of the most expensive resins to produce.

How tall do mastic trees grow?

Pistacia lentiscus (also lentisk; mastic; Greek: μαστίχα mastíkha) is a dioecious evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Pistacia, growing up to 4 m (13 ft) tall which is cultivated for its aromatic resin, mainly on the Greek island of Chios.

Is mastic tree poisonous?

It may be chewed as a gum and breath freshener or used as a flavoring in puddings, cakes and liqueurs. Plants for a Future warns that children may develop diarrhea from mastic and that the essential oil should not be ingested, though an edible oil can be made from the seeds.

Can you eat Mastic berries?

Pistacia lentiscus, the lentisk or mastic bush is a member of the Anacardiaceae family. ... All parts of the bush are aromatic. The aromatic pea-sized red-blackish berries are edible.

Do mastic trees have invasive roots?

Pistacia lentiscus is a Mediterranean native that grows into a large shrub or small tree to 25 feet. Mastic trees can become invasive in irrigated areas.

Why is mastic expensive?

The rarity of mastic and the difficulty of its production make it expensive. As a result, imitations in the form of other resins appear in the market, sold as "mastic", such as Boswellia or gum arabic. Other trees, such as terebinths (Pistacia terebinthus), can also produce a resin similar to mastic.

Does mastic gum kill good bacteria?

A small 2010 study found that mastic gum may kill off Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Researchers found that 19 out of 52 participants successfully cleared the infection after chewing mastic gum for two weeks. Participants who took an antibiotic in addition to chewing mastic gum saw the highest success rate.

What can I use instead of mastic?

Mastic has a mild, delicately sweet flavor that is extremely subtle and similar to vanilla. There is, however, a subtle evergreen flavor that is present, but it is so faint, it is often hard to detect. In places where mastic is difficult to find, vanilla is often used as a substitute.

What are the side effects of mastic gum?

Possible Side Effects

Mastic gum may cause allergy in some. The mastic tree belongs to the Pistacia family of plants, which also includes the pistachio tree (Pistacia vera). People allergic to pistachio nuts (or its close cousin cashew nuts) may also be allergic to mastic gum.

How do you prune a mastic tree?

A typically low-maintenance plant, the tree grows overlarge, and needs regular pruning to maintain an attractive shape.

Prune the tree in the winter, during the dormant season, to avoid causing damage. ...
Remove any dead or diseased branches and clear out all leaves and brush from around the base of the tree.

Are mastic trees deciduous?

Depending on the winter temperatures, it is semi-evergreen to deciduous. This Asian import, known as the mastic tree, is evergreen and provides more shade than the other two. It has a long history; leaf fossils from it have been dated back six million years.