Plants in genus bursera
Bursera fagaroides
Bursera fagaroides, or torchwood copal, is a small tree native to the Sonoran Desert, Mexico, and Arizona. It features a swollen trunk, peeling bark, and pinnate leaves, with white flowers and triangular fruit. This drought-tolerant plant is used ornamentally and for traditional medicine.
Bursera hindsiana
Bursera hindsiana, commonly known as 'Red torchwood', is a fast-growing, drought-resistant shrub native to Mexico. It features white flowers in autumn and grows 4-12 feet tall. This winter-dormant plant thrives in full sunlight and well-drained soil.
Bursera microphylla
Bursera microphylla, commonly known as the Little Elephant Tree, is native to northwestern Mexico and the southwestern US. It features a thickened, water-storing trunk and can grow up to 33 feet tall. The tree has light gray to white bark with reddish younger branches and star-shaped white or cream flowers. It is deciduous, retaining leaves year-round except in drought or cold conditions, and is known for its exfoliating papery bark.