How to Grow and Care for Bursera

Commonly known as the gumbo limbo, the Bursera simaruba tree grows to about 30 m tall with a shiny dark red bark with spirally arranged leaves and pinnate with 7-11 leaflets. It produces a small, three-valved capsule with a single seed as the fruit which birds seek out to feed on. The gumbo limbo is believed to be one of the most wind-tolerant trees and is planted to provide wind protection for crops and roads.

Torchwood copal (Bursera fagaroides) is a large shrub found throughout Mexico. It grows as tall as 10 m on a peeling, swollen trunk. Its small seeds are often eaten by birds but are not fit for human consumption. Torchwood copal resin, however, has been used for the creation of incense. The trees are also sometimes grown in bonsai style.

The elephant tree (Bursera microphylla) grows in the deserts of Southern California and Mexico, and is quite rare. Its cinnamon-colored bark peels with age, while the stems contort into twisted shapes that hold small compound leaves. The remarkable trunk works as water storage, much like an actual elephant. They cannot tolerate any cold whatsoever.

Bursera laxiflora is a resilient shrub or small tree, characterized by its peeling bark and lush crown of compound leaves that flourish in sun-drenched, arid habitats. Remarkably, it emits a distinctive resinous fragrance, an adaptation likely to deter herbivores and attract pollinators. Its small, inconspicuous flowers and winged fruits are adapted to thrive in the challenging conditions of its native ecosystem.

Bursera bipinnata is a deciduous tree with a distinctively flaky bark and a copious resin production which gives it a pleasant aroma. The leaves are typically double pinnate, giving a delicate, feather-like appearance. Often found in dry forests, its structural adaptability safeguards it against harsh sunlight and sporadic rainfall, with deep roots stabilizing it in rocky soils.