Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
tourist tree, turpentine tree, chaca
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Habitat
Riverbanks, Sandy stream banks, Tropical rainforest
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
8-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Ivory
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Crimson, Copper
-
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Compound
Lance shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
occasional watering once established
Requires plenty of water during 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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Deers, Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Allergy
allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Rash
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
Good for skin
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
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Application in Furniture, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
BURSERA simaruba
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Turpentine Tree
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Bursera simaruba
Shell Ginger
In German
Bursera simaruba
Shell Ginger
In French
Bursera simaruba
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Bursera simaruba
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Bursera simaruba
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Bursera simaruba
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Bursera simaruba
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Bursera simaruba
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Lilopsida
Order
Sapindales
Zingiberales
Family
Burseraceae
Zingiberaceae
Clade
Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Importance of Gumbo Limbo and Shell Ginger
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Gumbo Limbo and Shell Ginger. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Gumbo Limbo and Shell Ginger 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 Shell Ginger is Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic and Hypotensive. Gumbo Limbo has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples while Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Gumbo Limbo vs Shell Ginger
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 Shell Ginger 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 Shell Ginger have Rash respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Gumbo Limbo has showy fruits and Shell Ginger has no showy fruits. Also Gumbo Limbo is not flowering and Shell Ginger is not flowering . You can compare Gumbo Limbo and Shell Ginger facts and facts of other plants too.