This is a photo of a Gumbo-Limbo tree. It’s one of my favorite deciduous trees that we have at Paradise Palms.

* It is a large semi-evergreen. The leaves are bright green and the flowers are creamy white.

* Its scientific name is Bursera simaruba. It is native to tropical regions of the Americas, from South Florida to Mexico and the Caribbean.

* It has a lifespan of 100 years.

* It grows quickly – 6 to 8 feet from a seed in just 18 months – and can reach 40 to 50 feet.

* It is a habitat for many resident and migrant species of birds, as well as monkeys and squirrels that feed on its red berries.

* Its wood is suitable for light construction and firewood, and its resin is used for glue, varnish, and incense.

* It is often referred to as the “tourist tree” because the bark is red and peeling, like the skin of a sunburnt tourist.