The February 16 post on this blog was of another species of Bursera, the “torote” tree, native to Baja California. Today’s posting is for a Floridian species of this genus, with the common name “gumbo limbo”. It is also found throughout the Caribbean and Central America.
I first saw gumbo limbos in the wild on a trip to Florida in the 1990s, where I was impressed by their fluid trunks and distinctive peeling bark. The sap of all species of this genus is fragrant and may have medicinal properties.
I mail-ordered this tree from Bonsai Collectables in Lancaster, California along with a couple of baobabs (see the April 21 post for one of them, an Adansonia greggorii) which arrived on May 23, 2013.
The tree today
The tree the day it arrived, getting its first repot.
The tree in its new pot.
Summer growth, with a companion tomato.
First winter after purchase.
Nearly a year after purchase.
Second spring after purchase. The tree is droopy from lack of water. This one requires a lot of water in spring.
Get that tree some water!
Too late.
New growth, the tree survived my inept watering.
Pruned.
Spring growth.
Late in the growing season.
First wiring. The broken right branch was not by design. These trees are extremely brittle. I’ve had my best wiring success on gumbo limbos with the newest growth, before it hardens off.
This tree usually keeps its leaves through the winter, waiting until early spring to lose them.
Bare-rooted, pruned, and planted in its current pot.
Reduced height.
Still putting out new growth in fall.
The tree has lost its leaves for the season.
I attempted to get more movement in the branches.
First new growth of the season.
Ugly upper straight section of trunk without taper on photo left.
Straight section removed.
New growth in October.
The tree in winter.
Branch-pruned.
Previous season’s leaves.
A new season’s growth taking off.
Pruned.
Spreading canopy.
Last year’s leaves in June.
The tree earlier today.
beginBonsai 
Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.
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