Gumbo Limbo
Bursera simaruba
- Native to:
- Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Navassa Island, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
iNaturalist: © dnydick (iNaturalist #5183562)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Burseraceae
- Genus:
- Bursera
- Species:
- Bursera simaruba
- USDA Symbol:
- BUSI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- feb,mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Caloptilia burserella, elm spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria), Paectes burserae, Eunica monima
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Caloptilia burserella Butterflies:⚠️Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala), Eastern Giant (Heraclides cresphontes), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Orange-barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea), Statira sulphur (Phoebis statira), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire or mechanical damage. Distinctive peeling reddish-bronze bark provides some fire protection to cambium.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- adapted to rocky and coastal areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–45 days
- Notes:
- Fresh seeds germinate readily. Viability decreases rapidly with storage. Warm temperatures and moisture accelerate germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI