

Gumbo limbos (botanically listed as Bursera simaruba) have reddish peeling bark and limbs jutting skyward at quirky angles. What a perfect choice the tree is distinctive, and easy to spot all over south Florida. Named for a local tree, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center was a reality, at least in name. How did the gumbo-limbo tree get its name? The leaves are leathery, blush-green in colour, 5 to 10 centimetres in length, and the tree features small yellow flowers while blooming. It’s considered one of the most charming South Florida trees. , is native to the Caribbean and Central and South America. The Shady Lady tree, commonly known as the The fruits are edible succulent red berries. The leaves are bright green and the flowers are creamy white. It has a single trunk that is smooth and red. Huge truncheons (up to 12 inches in diameter) are planted in the ground where they sprout and grow into a tree.

Propagation is by seed which germinates readily if fresh but, most often, gumbo-limbo is propagated by cuttings of any size twig or branch. The Tourist Tree is somewhat tolerant to salt spray. They are very tolerant of many types of soils from deep sands to alkaline and calcareous locations as long it is well-drained, no wet feet for this native.

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The right place for Gumbo Limbo is in full sun to part shade with full sun being the preferred location
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The gumbo-limbo is often referred to as the “tourist tree” because the tree’s bark is red and peeling, like the skin of a sun burnt tourist. The trunk and branches are thick and are covered with resinous, smooth, peeling coppery-colored bark with an attractive, shiny, freshly-varnished appearance. How can you tell if a gumbo tree is limbo? It has amazing features - for example, branches just pushed into the ground will root it grows quickly, 6 to 8 feet from a seed in just 18 months, and attains heights of 50 ft. It is found from south Florida to northern South America, and Central America and the Caribbean. Trees tend to reach 25 to 50 feet (7.5-15 m.) tall at maturity, and they are sometimes wider than they are tall. It grows extremely fast – in the course of 18 months it can go from a seed to a tree reaching 6 to 8 feet in height (2-2.5 m.).
Gumbo limbo tree how to#
10 Superb Florida Shade Treesĥ Best Ways For How To Kill A Tree – How To Kill A Tree – Journey To Sustainabilityġ7.0 similar questions has been found How long does it take a gumbo-limbo tree to grow? The resin is used as a treatment for gout. Anti-inflammatory properties in its leaves, bark and resin can be used to treat a variety of aches and pains. Gumbo Limbo is a very useful tree its wood is suitable for light construction and firewood, and the resin is used as glue, varnish and incense. On Sale now in 3 gallon pots, about 6 feet tall, only $10. Most seen in home landscapes are around 25 or 30 feet tall, though the tree can reach 40 feet. Gumbo Limbo is a fast grower you can plant in full sun to partial shade. Meet the chaka tree, or Bursera simaruba, or Gumbo-Limbo, which can stop the toxic chemical reaction to the chechém tree. Are gumbo limbo trees poisonous?īut nature has a way of being merciful, for if there is a poison there must be an antidote.

Where do you plant gumbo in limbo?īest in Zone 10, gumbo limbo is a fast grower you can plant in full sun to partial shade. The gumbo limbo belongs to the Burseraceae family, aka the torchwood or frankincense family - one with loads of ethnobotanical, medicinal and cultural uses. It’s a good candidate for habitat restoration because it is fast growing (though non-invasive) and can tolerate most soil types. In cold weather the Gumbo Limbo will lose its leaves but they do grow back in the spring usually accompanied by its berry like seeds. Gumbo Limbos go by many names the West Indian Birch, the Turpentine Tree, the Living Fence Post, and the Tourist Tree because the bark turns red and peels in direct sunlight.
