How to Germinate Boswellia Sacra

Print this articleBoswellia sacra has been in cultivation for thousands of years -- Queen Hatshepsut had the tree imported to Egypt for cultivation in the 1400s BC. Boswellia sacra is a large shrub or small tree, the dried sap of which is known as frankincense. Native to Somalia, Oman and Yemen, Boswellia sacra thrives in arid environments with rocky soils. It bears jagged-edged foliage and gray, peeling bark. Boswellia sacra seeds can be pricey, and their germination rate is between 8 and 10 percent.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll NeedHydrogen peroxideSmall bowlNursery potVermiculitePeat mossSand (optional)Heat matSuggest Edits1

Combine one part of hydrogen peroxide and two parts of water. Place the Boswellia sacra seeds in a shallow bowl, and pour the hydrogen peroxide/water solution over them. Allow them to soak for 24 hours.

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Prepare a nursery pot with equal parts of vermiculite and peat moss, well combined and moistened.

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Place the Boswellia sacra seeds on the surface of the mixture, and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite or sand. Carefully moisten the top layer of the germination medium with water from a spray bottle.

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Cover the pot with plastic wrap or seal it in a plastic bag. Place the potted Boswellia sacra seeds on a heat mat set to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination may occur as soon as seven days. Open one corner of the plastic when the seed sprouts but allow it to remain on the heat mat as you gradually reduce the heat over the course of one week. Turn the heat mat off and remove the plastic.

ReferencesPlants for a Future: Herb GardensUniversity of Florida IFAS Extension; Three Ancient Gifts; Dan Culbert; December 2004B&T World Seeds: Germination Guide for Boswellia sacraRead Next:

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