How fast do gumbo limbo trees grow?
Gumbo limbo ( Bursera simaruba) is an especially popular species of the genus Bursera. The tree is native to southern Florida and ranges throughout the Caribbean and South and Central America. 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 (1.8-2.4 m.).
What is a gumbo limbo?
Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) is an especially popular species of the genus Bursera. The tree is native to southern Florida and ranges throughout the Caribbean and South and Central America.
Where do gumbo limbo trees grow in Florida?
Gumbo limbo trees are big, very fast growing, and interestingly shaped natives of southern Florida. These trees are popular in hot climates as specimen trees, and especially for lining streets and sidewalks in urban settings. Keep reading to learn more gumbo limbo info, including gumbo limbo care and how to grow gumbo limbo trees.
What is a gumbo-limbo tree?
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.
How fast do gumbo limbo trees grow?
It is found from south Florida to northern South America, and Central America and the Caribbean. 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.
Can you prune a gumbo limbo tree?
Trimming a gumbo limbo tree is only necessary to remove too-low branches to allow for foot traffic or where the branches extend over a driveway. These trees are drought tolerant once established. They'll do best with regular irrigation and time to dry out between waterings. At the very least, water during dry spells.
Where do you plant gumbo in limbo?
The fruit takes a year to ripen and matures in early summer. Gumbo limbo grows in full sun or partial shade on a wide range of well drained soils. Tolerant of moderate amounts of salt spray, gumbo limbo adapts to alkaline or poor, deep white sands but will also grow quickly on more fertile soil.
How do you shape a gumbo limbo tree?
How to Prune Gumbo-LimboChoose the right pruning tool for the job, based on the size of the branch or limb that you're pruning. ... Cut the lower branches on the sides of young gumbo-limbo trees to lengths of 4 to 6 inches in the first year after planting the gumbo-limbo to help stimulate the tree's development.More items...
How much do gumbo limbo trees cost?
Gumbo Limbo is a fast grower you can plant in full sun to partial shade. Most seen in home landscapes are around 25 or 30 feet tall, though the tree can reach 40 feet. On Sale now in 3 gallon pots, about 6 feet tall, only $10.
What is gumbo limbo good for?
The resin is used as a treatment for gout. The bark is used as a common topical remedy for a variety of skin conditions including sores, measles, sunburn and insect bites, and a decoction can be taken internally to cure pain, cold and flu, fever and sunstroke.
Is Gumbo-Limbo fruit edible?
It has a single trunk that is smooth and red. The leaves are bright green and the flowers are creamy white. The fruits are edible succulent red berries.
Are gumbo-limbo trees native to Florida?
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.
Where did the name gumbo-limbo come from?
The gumbo-limbo is referred to, humorously, as the tourist tree because the tree's bark is red and peeling, like the skin of the sunburnt tourists who are a common sight in the plant's range.
Are banyan trees in Florida?
Species Overview Ficus benghalensis is perennial tree. Within North America, the banyan tree is present only in Florida. (Kartesz, 1999). The banyan tree rarely is found growing in the disturbed tropical hammocks of Dade and Broward counties.
Are mahogany trees native to Florida?
Mahogany is native to southernmost Dade and Monroe counties and is currently listed as a state threatened species due to logging. However, it is readily available for purchase at many native nurseries in South Florida, and is commonly planted as a street and shade tree.
Is a gumbo limbo tree messy?
Gumbo- limbo has light, soft wood so it is best planted away from buildings. And remember: It gets big, to 60 feet in height. --Mahogany, Swietenia mahagoni: a beautiful big tree for lawn areas. It can reach 50 to 60 feet in height and is somewhat messy with leaf and fruit drop.
What is a gumbo limbo tree?
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.
Where is Gumbo Limbo native to?
Native to South Florida and the tropical offshore islands, gumbo-limbo is a large semi-evergreen tree.
Is Gumbo Limbo hardy in Florida?
This attractive tree is an excellent choice—for South Florida landscapes. Unfortunately, the gumbo-limbo is only hardy in zones 10B–11.
Is a gumbo limbo tree a tourist tree?
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. Gumbo-limbo is also considered one of the most wind-tolerant trees. This attractive tree is an excellent choice—for South Florida landscapes. Unfortunately, the gumbo-limbo is only hardy in zones 10B–11.
How tall is Gumbo Limbo?
Best in Zone 10, gumbo limbo is a fast grower you can plant in full sun to partial shade. Most seen in home landscapes are around 25 or 30 feet tall, though the tree can reach 40 feet.
Why trim a Gumbo Limbo tree?
Trimming a gumbo limbo tree is only necessary to remove too-low branches to allow for foot traffic or where the branches extend over a driveway.
What is the name of the tree with red bark?
It develops unusual red bark that peels back - reminiscent of sunburned skin - which gives gumbo limbo the nickname of "Tourist Tree."
Can a Gumbo limbo survive hurricanes?
The wood is lightweight, soft and easily-carved - it used to be used to make carousel horses. But in spite of these characteristics of the wood, a gumbo limbo is considered one of the most wind-tolerant trees and can withstand hurricane winds.
How tall is a gumbo limbo tree?
Gumbo Limbo trees can reach heights of 30-40 feet with a canopy of 60 feet. They achieve this size relatively quickly with an average life span for the tree is about 100 years. Roots match the size of the canopy so If you do not want a large root ring then trimming the canopy will be necessary.
Where do gumbo limbo trees grow?
Caring For a Gumbo Limbo Tree. Gumbo Limbo trees are a soft wood tropical climate tree native to Southern Florida and the Caribbean. They exist only in temperate tropical climates and do not usually grow further north than the Southern Tampa bay region of Florida. The prolific trees can grow either from a seed or by directly planting a branch ...
How long does it take for a gumbo limbo to grow?
The leaves will all drop off the clipping until it puts out its roots. You will start to notice growth from the new Gumbo Limbo after a few weeks to a month.
Why do gumbo limbos lose their leaves?
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.
When do Gumbo Limbo trees produce fruit?
It has green leaves that grow in spirals. It produces fruit mainly in March and April. The gumbo limbo tree is tall (grows rapidly), and it’s wood is easy to carve. It is very sturdy and hurricane resistant. But when they do fall, they can sprout from a broken branch on the ground; clearly, they are a very resilient plant! This tree is also considered a shade tree that thrives with minimal care.
How long is the Gumbo Limbo Trail in the Everglades?
In the Everglades National Park, there is a Gumbo Limbo Trail that is .4 miles round trip. Bicycles are not allowed on this path. This paved path brings visitors through a shaded, hammock of gumbo limbo trees, along with royal palms, ferns, and air plants. The trail is about 4 miles from the main park entrance. This is considered an easy path. Along this trail, there are signs identifying the trees and explaining how this forest formed. There are some deep holes surrounding the path and it is known to be a bit buggy.
Is the Gumbo Limbo tree real?
Ever heard of the gumbo-limbo tree? No, it’s not from a fantasy book, it’s a real tree that lives in the Everglades. In fact, it’s one of the best-known trees in south Florida. It’s also known as the “tourist tree,” because its peeling bark resembles the skin of South Florida visitors.
Gumbo Limbo trees in need of help
Hello, We have 6 or 7 gumbo limbos in the yard and a few of them are doing awful. 2 years ago they were quite a sight, but this Winter they lost most leaves and now have lichens growing on most branches... not a good thing. I spoke with an arborist about a year ago on how a few of the gumbos were covered with scale and black mildewy soot.
Comments (11)
Gumbo Limbo is a Florida native, so it shouldn't need a lot of extra irrigation. They are deciduous, so they will drop every leaf, every year. The lichens indicate that the branches are getting more sun, in other words, less leaves during the growing season, so there's another problem at work here.
