Frankincense plant: plant & care for

Many probably only know frankincense from the church. We show that the plant can also enrich the garden and give tips on planting and caring for it.

Frankincense has also been known to us in Europe for thousands of years. Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Israelites used the Harz for their cultural purposes long ago Rites and for religious occasions and even today, incense is used in Catholic churches used. Frankincense has also been known for a long time in medicine. Often will Real incense (boswellia) with the frankincense plant (Plectrantus coleoides) mistaken. But the only similarity lies in the name. If you are looking for the precious frankincense resin, you will unfortunately not find it in the frankincense plant. Nevertheless, this plant belonging to the harp bushes (plectranthus) counts to offer a lot.

Frankincense: origin and meaning

Frankincense comes from arid regions such as Oman and has been traded worldwide as a valuable commodity since ancient times. The frankincense plant, on the other hand, is originally native to the tropics of Africa and Asia. We like to use it as a balcony plant or put it in hanging baskets because its shoots hang down. Its characteristic and probably also the reason for its name is the characteristic scent that emanates from its leaves.

Buying incense plants: you should pay attention to this

The frankincense plant comes in different varieties. Some strains flower white, while others develop purple flowers. The white-edged leaves are particularly characteristic of some varieties. Otherwise there is nothing else to consider when buying. You can find the plant at most garden centers and online.

plant incense

In contrast to real frankincense, the frankincense plant is very easy to care for and uncomplicated. It can not only be kept outside, but is even suitable as a houseplant.

The perfect location for the frankincense plant

The frankincense plant is not particularly demanding in terms of location and can cope with many conditions. It is also not very choosy when it comes to shade, partial shade or even full sun. However, she prefers it to be sunny and bright. There it grows quickly and forms long, drooping shoots.

Procedure for planting the incense

Choosing the right plant substrate is easy for the frankincense plant. Use garden or potting soil for this, for example our peat-free Plantura organic potting soil. The plant is ideal for window boxes and can also be placed between others summer flowers be set. The first fertilization only needs to be done a few weeks after planting.

Plant an incense tree

The frankincense plant is often confused with real frankincense due to the fact that it has the same name, but real frankincense is a tree. It comes from mountainous desert regions and is the supplier of valuable frankincense resin. However, keeping it is not easy, so it is not recommended for beginners. More to Purchase, plant and care for the frankincense tree find out here.

Cultivate the frankincense plant

The frankincense plant likes to be kept moist. Since it grows very quickly, it also needs fertilizer from time to time. Ideally suited here is our primarily organic Plantura organic flower fertilizer with a long-term effect.

Apart from that, the plant does not need any special care over the summer. However, the frankincense plant is not hardy. However, you can overwinter them indoors. To do this, choose a bright location at 10-15 °C and water them rarely. Hibernation at room temperature is also possible. Then you should continue to pour in the usual amount.

Effect and use of incense

Despite its intense fragrance, no medical effectiveness has been proven for the frankincense plant. What does not help against complaints or diseases, but at least provides relief against various insects. Things are different with the namesake of the frankincense plant, real frankincense. Although frankincense has been used for healing since ancient times, it is not very present in medicine today. Frankincense is used in Ayurveda medicine to treat joint problems. Frankincense was also used here in Europe, for example against rheumatism. However, the effect is often not proven. The smoke produced by burning the resin is believed to have anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Frankincense is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. In Germany, capsules with the resin of the Indian frankincense tree (Boswellia serrata) available for internal use. They are said to have a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect.

incense against mosquitoes

Both the frankincense and the frankincense plant repel insects. The frankincense plant does this through the intense scent that its leaves exude. This is of course an extremely pleasant effect on balconies and terraces.

Frankincense does not emit a scent directly, but the odor produced when the resin burns will deter insects. This can be very useful, for example on mild summer evenings. If you want to enjoy the evening near the pond for a little longer, you will quickly be plagued by annoying mosquitoes. However, these can be expelled by burning incense, for example in suitable bowls with coal or in the last embers of a fire.