Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
tourist tree, turpentine tree, chaca
Guaiacum officinale
Habitat
Riverbanks, Sandy stream banks, Tropical rainforest
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
10-15
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Ivory
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Crimson, Copper
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Olive
Leaf Shape
Compound
Egg-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
occasional watering once established
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
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 to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Deers, Hummingbirds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, soil stabilisation
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Headache
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Application in Furniture, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
BURSERA simaruba
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Turpentine Tree
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Bursera simaruba
Lignum Vitae
In German
Bursera simaruba
Lignum Vitae
In French
Bursera simaruba
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Bursera simaruba
Palo santo
In Greek
Bursera simaruba
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Bursera simaruba
pau-santo
In Polish
Bursera simaruba
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Bursera simaruba
lignum Vitae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Tracheophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Sapindales
Family
Burseraceae
Zygophyllaceae
Importance of Gumbo Limbo and Lignum Vitae
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Gumbo Limbo and Lignum Vitae. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Gumbo Limbo and Lignum Vitae 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 Lignum Vitae is . Gumbo Limbo has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples while Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Gumbo Limbo vs Lignum Vitae
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 Lignum Vitae 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 Lignum Vitae have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Gumbo Limbo has showy fruits and Lignum Vitae has showy fruits. Also Gumbo Limbo is not flowering and Lignum Vitae is not flowering . You can compare Gumbo Limbo and Lignum Vitae facts and facts of other plants too.