Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
Southern Asia, India, Melanesia, Australia
Types
tourist tree, turpentine tree, chaca
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis
Habitat
Riverbanks, Sandy stream banks, Tropical rainforest
Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
9-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Ivory
White, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Crimson, Copper
Yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Budding, Cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
occasional watering once established
Keep the Soil well drained, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in spring, Remove branches, Remove branches that rub together, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Deers, Hummingbirds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Asthma
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
-
Edible Uses
Sometimes
Yes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, soil stabilisation
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Headache
Respiratory Disorders, Soothing and relieving pain
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Application in Furniture, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics
Making Perfumes, Traditional medicine, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
BURSERA simaruba
CITRUS medica var. sarcodactylis
Common Name
Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Turpentine Tree
Buddha's Hand, Fingered Citron
In Hindi
Bursera simaruba
Buddha's Hand
Tree
In German
Bursera simaruba
Buddhas Hand
Baum
In French
Bursera simaruba
Main de Bouddha
Arbre
In Spanish
Bursera simaruba
Mano de Buda
Árbol
In Greek
Bursera simaruba
Χέρι του Βούδα
Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Bursera simaruba
Mão de Buda
Árvore
In Polish
Bursera simaruba
Ręka Buddy
Drzewo
In Latin
Bursera simaruba
Buddha manus
Arbor
Order
Sapindales
Sapindales
Family
Burseraceae
Rutaceae
Clade
Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Gumbo Limbo and Buddha's Hand
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Gumbo Limbo and Buddha's Hand. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Gumbo Limbo and Buddha's Hand 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 Buddha's Hand is Respiratory Disorders and Soothing and relieving pain. Gumbo Limbo has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples while Buddha's Hand has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Gumbo Limbo vs Buddha's Hand
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 Buddha's Hand 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 Buddha's Hand have Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Gumbo Limbo has showy fruits and Buddha's Hand has showy fruits. Also Gumbo Limbo is not flowering and Buddha's Hand is flowering. You can compare Gumbo Limbo and Buddha's Hand facts and facts of other plants too.