Commiphora CAMPESTRIS

Commiphora CAMPESTRIS - Commiphora campestris, Common commiphora, Bush frankincense.

Can be grown in bonsai style!

Commiphora is a genus of multi-stemmed succulent plants in the torchwood or frankincense family (Burseraceae), uniting more than one hundred species of deciduous shrubs or low trees distributed across Africa, Arabia, Pakistan, India, and Madagascar.

The base of the trunk, which grows up to 4 m (13 ft) in height, often has a caudex. The spiny stems branch abundantly and have thin, frequently peeling bark. The dense green leaves, simple or trifoliate with lanceolate or heart-shaped leaflets, reach 1 to 5 cm (0.4 to 2.0 in) in length. The leaf blades often have finely serrated margins and pubescence on the upper side.

The plants are dioecious - male and female flowers appear on separate specimens. The flowers are gathered in axillary panicles, white, pink, or red, with 4 petals. When leaves or shoots are damaged, a very pleasant aromatic milky sap is exuded. The scent varies from heavy resinous to fresh citrus.

After flowering, rounded or slightly oblong fruits form, containing only a single seed; however, two embryos can be inside a seed, which becomes evident only during germination.

Commiphora campestris is a spiny shrub or tree up to 9 m (30 ft) high with peeling bark. Arranged on long bare sparingly spiny branches are 3–7-foliolate obovate leaflets on petioles 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) long.

Propagation is carried out exclusively by seeds. Seeds are pre-soaked in warm water with the addition of stimulants for 2 hours, then sown into a loose substrate to a depth of about 0.5 cm (0.2 in), moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not direct sun, at a temperature of 23–27 °C (73–81 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Desiccation of the sowings must be avoided; consistent substrate moisture is required.

The first seedlings emerge between 2 weeks and 2 months. After several true leaves appear, pricking out into individual pots is carried out.

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Commiphora requires the brightest spot in the house. Direct sunlight should strike the plant in the morning and evening for at least 3 hours daily. On summer days it requires light shading. During dormancy, when the plant sheds its leaves, lighting is not especially critical. Warm conditions year-round with temperatures not below 15 °C (59 °F) are necessary.

During active vegetative growth, generous watering is necessary, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. In the leafless state, watering is reduced to a minimum, but the root ball must not be allowed to dry out completely. The plant is drought-tolerant.

Air humidity is of no special significance, but spraying the plant in the morning hours can help prevent pest outbreaks. In winter, the air should be dry. A room with good air circulation is preferred.

To grow a Commiphora with a thick trunk and a developed, robust root system, adequate root room must be provided; the use of shallow containers and premature exposure of thickened roots is not recommended. Taproots thrive in deeper containers. Some species form thickened roots, which is crucial for their survival in early years until a sturdy trunk develops.

Repotting is carried out as necessary. Well-drained calcareous and sandy soil is preferred. The soil mix should be porous with sufficient organic matter in the form of leaf mold, sod loam, and peat. Adding pieces of lava rock, crushed brick, or coarse gravel to the substrate is beneficial.

Repotting is often combined with pruning the canopy and roots, which stimulates branching and encourages trunk development. With age, very sharp spines form on some species, originating from desiccated shoots.

From spring to autumn, regular monthly feeding with a balanced mineral fertilizer is desirable.