• Photo by: Kari Ruder, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Bursera simaruba

gumbo-limbo, tourist tree

Nomenclature

Common Name:

gumbo-limbo, tourist tree

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Bursera simaruba

Family:

Burseraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

20-30 (60) ft tall by 20-30 (50) ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,green,NA

Fruit Color:

brown,NA

Phenology:

Briefly deciduous in late winter or drought.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Plant as a specimen tree to show off its bronze-colored peeling bark. Also makes a good shade tree.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host for dingy purplewing ( Eunica monima ) ( IRC ).  





Attracts bees and other insect pollinators

Kingbirds and other flycatchers eat the fruits ( IRC , Haehle and Brookwell 1999).

Native Habitats:

Moist hammocks, dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests, coastal uplands, urban areas

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This tree has a thick trunk and both the trunk and branches can twist into interesting shapes. The bark is red to bronze and peels. It's also called the tourist tree, who also may be reddish and peeling.