{"product_id":"commiphora-gileadensis-arabian-balsam","title":"Commiphora gileadensis - Arabian Balsam","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCommiphora gileadensis\u003c\/strong\u003e, commonly known as the Arabian Balsam or Balm of Gilead, is a small, open, aromatic tree of the rocky slopes of south west Arabia and the Horn of Africa. Smooth peeling grey bark carries thin branches and small trifoliate leaves, and every part of the plant releases a strong resinous scent when cut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is one of the historic incense and balsam plants of Arabia, traded from the region for millennia, and it makes an unusual small sculptural specimen for hot rocky sites. It is used in heritage and ethnobotanical planting, rocky slope restoration and courtyard specimen work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 2 to 4 metres, occasionally to 5 metres\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth\u003c\/strong\u003e: 2 to 3 metres\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to\u003c\/strong\u003e: South west Arabia and the Horn of Africa, on rocky slopes and wadi sides\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e: Small trifoliate leaves in light green, strongly aromatic; drought-deciduous and leafless for much of the dry season\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/strong\u003e: Slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConditions\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e: Requires sharply drained rocky, gravelly or shallow soils; will not accept heavy or wet ground\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e: Full sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e: Very low; strongly drought-tolerant and easily lost to overwatering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate\u003c\/strong\u003e: Thrives in hot arid and semi-arid regions; frost-sensitive and unsuited to cold sites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdditional Features\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm\u003c\/strong\u003e: Open, sculptural frame with smooth peeling bark, reading as a specimen rather than as mass planting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUses\u003c\/strong\u003e: Heritage and ethnobotanical planting, rocky slope restoration, courtyard and gravel garden specimens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing\u003c\/strong\u003e: Plant 3 to 4 metres apart, or singly as a specimen where the branch structure can be seen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow Maintenance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Requires no routine pruning; the main risk is excess irrigation rather than neglect\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePest Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Free of significant pest and disease problems in dry, well-drained conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought Tolerance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Very high, shedding foliage through the dry season and reshooting after rain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFragrance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Bark, resin and foliage are strongly aromatic, and the resin is the historic balsam of the region\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/strong\u003e: One of the classical incense and balsam plants of Arabia, documented in trade for thousands of years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrost Sensitivity\u003c\/strong\u003e: Damaged by frost, restricting it to genuinely warm sites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Arabian Balsam is a small heritage specimen tree, and it carries more history than almost anything else in the regional palette.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ornatec International","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46452565901508,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0659\/0493\/5108\/files\/placeholder-tree_80470628-abe9-4f89-9e71-bbb7957d4962.png?v=1785211272","url":"https:\/\/ornatecinternational.com\/products\/commiphora-gileadensis-arabian-balsam","provider":"Ornatec International","version":"1.0","type":"link"}