Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
Hybrid origin
Types
tourist tree, turpentine tree, chaca
Chinese red birch, Betula fruticosa, Betula ermanii
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Riverbanks, Sandy stream banks, Tropical rainforest
Rocky areas, Sandy areas, Well Drained, Wet forest, Wet ground, Wet lands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
4-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Pyramidal
Flower Color
Ivory
Yellow, Tan
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Crimson, Copper
Bronze, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
Not Available
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Yellow, Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Not Available
Leaf Shape
Compound
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Indeterminate
Early Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Not Available
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
occasional watering once established
Average Water Needs, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove short branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Not Available
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Not Available
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Deers, Hummingbirds
Ants, Birds, Insects
Allergy
allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Itchiness, Pollen, Sore Throat
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
Good for skin, Not Available, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
Sometimes
Yes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, soil stabilisation
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Medicinal Uses
Aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Headache
anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Bone strength, Dermatitis, Eczema, Eliminate toxins, Heart problems, High cholestrol, Immunity, Kidney problems
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Whole plant
Other Uses
Application in Furniture, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics
Used in paper industry
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
BURSERA simaruba
BETULA 'Crimson Frost'
Common Name
Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Turpentine Tree
Birch, Crimson Frost Birch
In Hindi
Bursera simaruba
भोज पत्र
In German
Bursera simaruba
Birke
In French
Bursera simaruba
Arbre de bouleau
In Spanish
Bursera simaruba
Abedul
In Greek
Bursera simaruba
Birch Tree
In Portuguese
Bursera simaruba
bétula
In Polish
Bursera simaruba
Brzoza
In Latin
Bursera simaruba
Caerulus
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Family
Burseraceae
Betulaceae
Clade
Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available
Carpinaceae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Gumbo Limbo and Birch
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Gumbo Limbo and Birch. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Gumbo Limbo and Birch as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Gumbo Limbo is Aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and Headache whereas of Birch is anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Bone strength, Dermatitis, Eczema, Eliminate toxins, Heart problems, High cholestrol, Immunity and Kidney problems. Gumbo Limbo has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples while Birch has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Gumbo Limbo vs Birch
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Gumbo Limbo vs Birch and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Gumbo Limbo are allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching and Vomiting whereas of Birch have Itchiness, Pollen and Sore Throat respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Gumbo Limbo has showy fruits and Birch has no showy fruits. Also Gumbo Limbo is not flowering and Birch is not flowering . You can compare Gumbo Limbo and Birch facts and facts of other plants too.