The mastic tree grows best in high heat in arid, rocky climates with low humidity.
The tree needs full sun and dry, alkaline, and well-draining soil.
Mastic Tree Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing a mastic tree.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Light
Provide a mastic tree with plenty of bright light.
It needs full sun to thrive and produce a healthy amount of gum.
Consider placing it somewhere that ensures it receives morning and early afternoon light.
The Spruce / K. Dave
The mastic will grow in various conditions, but wet soil will not make your tree happy.
check that your soil is well-draining, and your tree should do great.
Mastics prefer alkaline soil.Check the soil’s pHto see if it needsamendments.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Water
A mastic tree needs very little watering after it’s established.
During the first season, water it often to check that it establishes a good, strong root system.
As you head into the next season, overwatering your mastic becomes a concern.
Mastic trees are now common in the arid regions of Mexico where it was introduced and has since naturalized.
The tree does well inUSDA zones 9 to 11, which mimics its native region.
While small, it will reach no taller than 25 feet and will grow wider than tall.
Establish a single individual leader trunk and then you could maintain a manageable canopy from there.
To propagate a mastic tree at home, use hardwood cuttings.
Propagating this dioecious plant from seed can prove complicated.
However, you may have a few issues with the plant.
Watch for these signs.
Yellowing Leaves
A mastic tree with yellowing leaves indicates overwatering.
This can also lead to leaf drop and root rot.
Pull back on watering to see if this fixes the problem.
The better the tree is taken care of, the more gum it produces.
you might propagate a mastic tree vegetatively by taking hardwood cuttings that are planted in the landscape.
Shape a mastic tree into whatever shape you’d like, almost like abonsai.
For an ornamental look, make the canopy rounded.
Prune off the buds on the outer branches to increase bushier, side growth.
Or, prune off growth on the tree’s lower part to create more of a tree look.
Mastic trees are known to live for over 100 years.
Propagation of Mastic Tree: From Seed to Tissue Culture.4th International Symposium of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.
2022 Jan 28;14(3):590. doi: 10.3390/nu14030590.
PMID: 35276949; PMCID: PMC8838553.
