Elephant Tree, Three-Leaved (Bursera trifoliolata), packet of 5 seeds, organic

Family: Myrrh (Burseraceae) Hardy to Zones 10 to 12, otherwise grown as a potted tree and kept indoors for the winter (3-leaved Bursera, Palo de Elefante, Trifoliado, Torote Trifoliado, Palo Mulato) Drought-deciduous shrub to small tree, flowering fragrantly yellow-green to a height of 50 feet. Native to desert, dry shrubland biome, tropical dry forests of SW Mexico, Baja, Guatamala, Honduras and Caribbean. Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. A rare species. IUCN listed vulnerable to extirpation in the wild. Seed is from domesticated plants only. Planting and caring for three-leaved elephant tree is a significant act of conservation. Traditional use (TNAM): Digestive woes, skin rashes and lesions, respiratory ailments. With its swollen trunk filled with oleo-gum-resin, showy flowers and complex branching, the plant is both aromatic and ornamental. Will thrive perennially in potted culture given appropriate protection from frost. Evergreen unless allowed to go dry, in which case it will drop its leaves. Plant in very fast draining medium, allowing them to go dormant and dry in winter and watering frequently in the summer. Cultivation: Standard culture for dryland tree species–use a fast-draining mix, plant the seed 1/4 inch deep, tamp securely and keep warm, in the light and evenly moist until germination, which can take months. Work up seedlings in pots. Use Cactus mix. Start with a 4-inch pot, then go up to a gallon and finish in 3-gallon pots. Outdoors (dry tropics), space 15 feet apart. Packet of 5 seeds, Certified Organically Grown