Gumbo Limbo

Bursera simaruba

Gumbo Limbo

Urban Forest Tree Walk

Scientific name:

Bursera simaruba

Where to find it:

Native to South Florida and the tropical offshore islands, gumbo-limbo is a large semi-evergreen tree.

It can reach sixty feet in height, but it’s usually seen smaller in landscape plantings. The soft, light-weight, and easily carved wood of gumbo-limbo was used for making carousel horses before the advent of molded plastics.

Fast Facts

Tough

Although growth is rapid and wood is soft, it has great resistance to strong winds, drought, and neglect.

Hometown

A native of South Florida and the tropical offshore islands.

Tourist tree

Often called the "tourist tree" because the bark is red and peeling, like the skin of a sun burnt tourist.

Versitile

This attractive tree is an excellent choice for South Florida landscapes.

Looking for more info on this tree?

Visit the University of Florida extension

UF Extension