Wikimedia Commons
Burseraceae
Gumbo Limbo Flower
Bursera simaruba
resilience.
- Family
- Burseraceae
- Genus
- Bursera
- Native to
- Florida, Caribbean, Central America, South America
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Type
- tree
- Height
- 30-50 feet
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, sandy, limestone
- Water
- low to moderate
- Hardiness
- 10-12
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Gumbo limbo is called the 'tourist tree' because its peeling red bark resembles sunburned skin.
- The tree is incredibly hurricane-resistant and can regrow from branches stuck in the ground after a storm.
- Gumbo limbo is related to frankincense and myrrh trees, all belonging to the Burseraceae family.
- The resin has been used traditionally as incense, glue, and varnish throughout the Caribbean.
- The tiny greenish flowers are a vital nectar source for native bees and butterflies in South Florida.
Color meanings
0
survival
1
adaptability
2
strength through storms