PlantFiles: Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Torchwood, Dysentery Bark
Bursera simaruba

I have many of these trees on and around my property on Roatan Honduras. By central American standrds they are considered a weak tree and do not hold up well to high winds. They are also know as an "Indio desnudo" or Naked Indian tree.

This is a fantastically tough and fast growing tree. In summer 2004 I planted one from a seven gallon container. With minimal care it grew quickly. Three months later Hurricane Frances came along and dropped my neighbor's tin shed directly on top of it. It was flattened to the ground, had every limb broken off, sustained multiple deep wounds to the trunk and was now three feet shorter. I figured it was beyond saving, but I decided I had nothing to lose by giving it a chance to recover. A year and half later it has tripled in size and is going strong. It has also survived a frost and temps as low as 26 F with no visible damage.

I live in a new development that has these great trees as our main landscaping item. I have 3 mature trees, with one being very large. It is about 50 feet tall and has a pretty good girth for her trunk. In the spring (late April, early May) the sea sparrows come down and perch in the trees often. This is about the same time that the trees go through the "shedding" stage where they will mimic the trees up north by dropping all their leaves. Don't worry though, this only lasts about a month and then they come back stronger than ever!

They provide welcome relief from the summer sun and provide some great shade. They are great climbing trees too. My neighbor's son comes over and has a ball!

I highly recommend this tree.

It is called the "tourist tree" because the red bark appears to be sunburned and is peeling.

Gumbo Limbo is an unusual and excellent tree native to the tropical hardwood hammocks of coastal central and southern Florida, including throughout the Keys. It provides shelter for wildlife, and is an excellent wind-resistant tree. It is readily available in my zone 10 area (grows naturally from zones 9 southward) and one of friends across the street has it in her front yard. She hangs birdfeeders from it which attracts lots of doves, pigeons and some small groups of parakeets. I'd highly recommend this tree for its easy-to-grow habit, unusualness and wildlife benefits.

UPDATE/MORE FACTS - These trees are very easy to grow from cuttings, even of large branches. These trees are also found in the Caribbean and are used to make fences that do not rot easily on many islands in the Caribbean.

One of the most wind-resistant trees in Florida

Fast growth rate

Bark and roots good for an ailing stomach and light menstrual cramps. Also known as the living fence-post, a fresh-cut limb planted as a fence-post will grow into another tree.