Mastic (lentisk)
Pistacia lentiscus
Tough evergreen hedge of the maquis; its resin is Chios mastic, and its berries feed migrating birds.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 10 ft tall, 10 ft wide
From: Mediterranean
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: wildlife, pollinators.
Native to: Mediterranean. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Mastic has been chewed for at least 2,500 years; the word masticate comes from it. The resin tears are still harvested on the Greek island of Chios by the same method, and they flavor breads, ice cream and liqueurs across the eastern Mediterranean.
Planting
Full sun and poor, dry, limy soil in a mild-winter climate. It takes salt wind.
Growing
Clip it as a hedge or let it mound. No summer water once established.
Harvest and use
A tough evergreen screen, berries for migrating warblers and thrushes, and resin from trees old enough to tap.
What to watch for
Hard frost. Male and female flowers are on separate plants.
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home