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Gumbo Limbo
Bursera simaruba
Gumbo Limbo
Urban Forest Tree Walk
Scientific Name
Bursera simaruba
Location
Baker Park
Lowdermilk Park
Anthony Park
Fleischmann Park
Cambier Park
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.
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