Can I grow this indoors?

It is difficult but possible if you provide intense light and very well-draining soil.

How often should I water it?

Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out completely between sessions.

Plant guide

Frankincense.

Boswellia sacra

Pronounced boz-WELL-ee-uh SAK-ruh

Also known as frankincense, olibanum-tree

Frankincense Tree — Photo by scott.zona (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Frankincense is a beautiful, slow growing tree known for the aromatic resin it produces. It thrives in arid conditions and brings a unique, desert aesthetic to your space. You will love its papery bark and delicate, feathery leaves.

Another photo of Frankincense — Photo by Julien Renoult (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Deciduous tree
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 14 to 30 days
Mature size: 15 to 20 feet
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Late winter to early spring

Care

Keep this tree in a very sunny spot and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is sitting in too much moisture. It prefers a gritty, well draining soil mix to mimic its rocky native habitat.

Watering: Water sparingly, ensuring the soil dries out entirely to prevent root rot.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, diluted fertilizer only during the active growing season.
Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter to maintain shape and remove any dead branches.
Repotting: Repot only when the tree has clearly outgrown its current container, as it prefers to be somewhat root bound.
Soil: Sandy or rocky, well draining
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: 10 to 40°C
Humidity: 10 to 40%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for several hundred years.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface for too long.
The tree stops growing during the active season.

Safety

People: The plant is generally non-toxic, but the resin should be used with care as it can cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals.
Children: Keep away from children as the small, hard seeds and sharp branches pose minor physical risks.
Contact allergens: Handling the raw resin or sap may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people.
Airborne allergens: Burning the resin releases smoke that can irritate the lungs of those with asthma or sensitivities.
Edibility: While the resin is traditionally chewed, the plant itself is not considered a food source and should not be ingested.

How to identify it

Papery, peeling bark
Feathery, pinnate leaves
Small white or yellow flowers
Produces aromatic resin

Height: 2 to 8m
Spread: 1.5 to 5m
Leaves: green, yellow-green, deciduous
Flowers: white, yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
MealybugsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Keep the plant in a bright, warm location and reduce watering to almost nothing during the cooler months to mimic its natural dormancy.
In containers: It grows well in containers if you use a gritty, fast-draining cactus mix and a pot with large drainage holes.

Seed Sowing

1. Use a very sandy, well-draining seed starter mix.
2. Press seeds lightly into the surface.
3. Keep warm and barely moist until germination.

Cuttings

1. Take a semi-hardwood cutting in spring.
2. Allow the cut end to callus for several days.
3. Insert into dry, sandy soil and wait for roots to form.

Group with other desert succulents that require minimal water to prevent accidental overwatering.

Grows well with

Aloe · They share similar requirements for arid conditions and well-draining soil.
Desert Rose · This companion thrives in the same high-heat, low-water environment.

Similar species

Indian Frankincense · A related species also used for resin production.

Science

Family: Burseraceae
Genus: Boswellia
Order: Sapindales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Oman, Yemen, and parts of Somalia.
Conservation: The species is considered near threatened due to over-harvesting and habitat loss in its native range.

It thrives in arid, rocky environments where its roots can penetrate limestone crevices to access deep moisture.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: incense production, ornamental specimen, traditional medicine

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 8/9
Light: 9/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 1/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this indoors?: It is difficult but possible if you provide intense light and very well-draining soil.
How often should I water it?: Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out completely between sessions.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Boswellia honors the Scottish botanist John Boswell, while sacra refers to its sacred status in ancient religious rituals.

Good to know

The trees often grow directly out of limestone cliffs.
Frankincense has been traded for over 5,000 years.
The bark peels in papery layers.
It is a slow-growing tree that can live for centuries.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.