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Gumbo-Limbo

About Gumbo-Limbo

Gumbo-Limbo is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that needs very little water to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Bursera simaruba

Genus

Bursera

Family

Burseraceae

Order

Sapindales

Also known as

gumbo-limbo, copperwood, chaca, naked Indian and turpentine tree

How to care for Gumbo-Limbo

💦 Water

How often to water your Gumbo-Limbo

Gumbo-Limbo needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Gumbo-Limbo in your home

Gumbo-Limbo love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Gumbo-Limbo does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Gumbo-Limbo in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Gumbo-Limbo

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Gumbo-Limbo: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Gumbo-Limbo after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Gumbo-Limbo thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Gumbo-Limbo Water Frequency →

Gumbo-Limbo Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Gumbo-Limbo requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Gumbo-Limbo Light Requirements →

Gumbo-Limbo Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Gumbo-Limbo is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Gumbo-Limbo will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Gumbo-Limbo Lifecycle →

Gumbo-Limbo Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Gumbo-Limbo →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Gumbo-Limbo can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Gumbo-Limbo Temperature Tolerance →

Gumbo-Limbo Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Gumbo-Limbo →

When to Plant Gumbo-Limbo →

How to Plant Gumbo-Limbo →

Where to Plant Gumbo-Limbo →

Winter Care for Gumbo-Limbo →

Best Companion Plants for Gumbo-Limbo →

Is Gumbo-Limbo a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Gumbo-Limbo, since they are very sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.