Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
China, Japan
Types
tourist tree, turpentine tree, chaca
-
Number of Varieties
15
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverbanks, Sandy stream banks, Tropical rainforest
subtropical regions, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-156-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 22, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
760.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Ivory
White, Silver
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Crimson, Copper
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
-
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Shape
Leaf Shape
Compound
broad, flat
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
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
Fall, Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Pollution, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Cuttings, root cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
occasional watering once established
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
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, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Coral Spot, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Deers, Hummingbirds
Birds
Allergy
allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai
Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
Skin irritation
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, soil stabilisation
Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Headache
Antiasthamatic, Antitussive, Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Application in Furniture, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
BURSERA simaruba
Elaeagnus pungens
Common Name
Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Turpentine Tree
Silverthorn
In Hindi
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
In German
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
In French
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
In Spanish
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
In Greek
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
In Portuguese
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
In Polish
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
In Latin
Bursera simaruba
Silverthorn
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Rhamnales
Family
Burseraceae
Elaeagnaceae
Genus
Bursera
Elaeagnus
Clade
Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
1070
1
27800
👆🏻