Pistacia lentiscus
mastic
Overview
Pistacia lentiscus is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the cashew family, growing 3-15 feet (1-5 m) tall with a dense, rounded, spreading crown. The aromatic compound leaves are pinnate with 4 to 12 leathery leaflets, each 0.4-2 inches (1-5 cm) long, glossy dark green and held year-round. Crushed foliage and cut bark release a resinous scent. The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants; both are small, clustered, and lack petals, the males reddish and the females greenish, opening in spring. Female plants bear small drupes 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) across that ripen from red to black by autumn. Trunks and branches exude a pale resin known as mastic when cut, harvested on the Greek island of Chios for chewing gum, varnish, and flavouring. The shrub forms a major component of Mediterranean maquis and garrigue scrub, resprouting after fire and tolerating drought, salt spray, and poor rocky soils. Growth is slow, and the species needs male and female plants nearby for fruit set. It withstands hard pruning and shearing, which makes it a frequent hedge and screen in mild climates.
Native Range
Native to the Mediterranean Basin and parts of the Middle East, from Portugal and Morocco east to Turkey, the Levant, and the Canary Islands. It grows in coastal scrub, rocky hillsides, and open woodland on dry, well-drained ground.Suggested Uses
Grown as an evergreen hedge, screen, or clipped specimen in Mediterranean and coastal gardens, and used for erosion control on dry slopes. The resin is harvested for mastic gum, while the foliage and fruit support birds and insects in scrubland plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 15'
Width/Spread6' - 12'
Bloom Information
Small petalless flowers open in spring, the reddish males and greenish females borne in dense axillary clusters on separate plants. Pollination is by wind. Female plants set drupes that turn from red to black through summer and autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
reddish to greenishFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Performs in full sun and free-draining soil, including poor, rocky, sandy, or chalky ground at a pH from 6.0 to 8.0. Once established, it tolerates extended drought and coastal salt exposure with no supplemental water. Growth slows in heavy, wet soils, where root rot can set in. Hardy to roughly 15-20 F (-7 to -9 C), it suits zones 8 to 11 and needs shelter or container culture in colder regions. Both a male and a female plant are needed for fruit and resin yields. Container specimens grow in gritty, free-draining compost with infrequent watering.Pruning
Tolerates hard pruning and shearing, regrowing readily from old wood. Hedges and screens are sheared in late spring after the main flush of growth. Dead or crossing branches can be removed to keep an open framework.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons