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