The heavenly aroma emanating from the oils in the leaves and branches is indescribable. It would make the best cologne ever!

Two cuttings, 1/4" to 1/2" diameter, from an elephant tree (Bursera microphylla).

Cut fresh when you place your order and shipped immediately. 7" to 12" long. Shipped wrapped in a moist cloth in recent rain water.
I have found these very difficult to keep alive for more than a year.

These have similar properties to Frankincense. Their aroma is deep and heavenly, like the best cologne you have ever smelled.

Warning: I suggest these cuttings for EXPERIENCED GROWERS. It is difficult to grow these cuttings!

I recommend these only to experienced growers. There are sensitive, difficult, and very slow growing. If you forget about them for a few days at 80 degrees or higher, all their leaves may fall off. I usually do not see any roots in the first 6 months. Even Master Gardeners lose them when they are several years old from not paying close attention to them daily.

If you have success for 6 months in growing your cuttings, please let me know about the planting medium you used, your container, sun direction, humidity, indoors, outdoors, elevation, and temperature--and take a photo of them once a month-- and I will give you another cutting at no charge. Be part of the Elephant Tree Research Team to help this species survive and thrive!

This is a rare, beautiful, medicinal tree that grows in mid-Arizona only on two mountain ranges near Phoenix, Arizona. It also grows in more remote spots in Southern Arizona, the extreme southeastern edge of California, and Northern Mexico. This species of Bursera has the smallest leaves of the Burseras. It is acclimated to the desert.

These can be pruned into bonsai trees. In the Midwest, gardeners have them outside in pots in the summer, and bring them inside in the winter as they do not like freezing temperatures. They like hot, humid conditions with very good draining soil. They are slow growing.

My cuttings are done legally, ethically, and sustainably on private property with permission.

These can be put outside in warm weather and brought in if you are a cold climate. Their normal gardening zone is 9b at 1400' elevation or higher.

There is no guarantee these will successfully root but they will have a good chance if you use rooting medium and the recommended potting materials detailed below.

I collect rain water every time it rains and keep it in 5 gallon buckets with the lids on so mosquitoes cannot breed and insects and animals cannot drown. I keep the cuttings moist daily for the first month with rain water. Then I start letting the soil dry out a bit between watering every other day.

Here are further instructions about growing your elephant trees

From Dave's Garden Blog:
O (Zone 6a) wrote:

"Bursera microphylla:
For those of us not living in the arid desert of Southwestern United States, this plant still proves valuable as a potted plant. I purchased a plant several years ago from the Henry Shaw Cactus Society plant show at Missouri Botanical Garden as a small sapling. It has since grown well in a 8" clay pot outdoors during the growing season.

Growing media should be approximately equal parts each of soil-less potting media, sand, a cherty gravel, and half-parts vermiculite and perlite. Adding a slow-release fertilizer to mix also is recommended. Once growing in the pot, use small pea gravel as a mulch atop the media in the pot. This will add weight and keep the pot from getting too dry (when growing in a pot, too dry can prove harmful even for drought tolerant plants).

I water usually every 3-5 days in the summer and more frequent if extended heat ongoing. Tolerates humidity well--as long as in full sun and sufficient airflow.

To create a dormant state in fall (before major freezing weather commences) place potted Bursera in garage and allow leaves to yellow and senesce. If potential for freezing becomes severe, place in an unheated basement and utilize supplemental fluorescent lighting set up with a timer to allow 12 hour photo period.

Keep dry and maybe water one time every week. This will help keep plant dormant. As soon as weather becomes warm and freeze threat abates, Bursera can be placed outside again.

Never have observed insect pests or disease problems. Resin from sap turns whitish and has an agreeable fragrance much like frankincense, a plant to which it is related (Boswellia sacra). Purported to make an excellent bonsai subject."