Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Gumbo Limbo

Bursera simaruba

Typically in season from June to August in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba)

Photo: (c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte · iNaturalist

When Gumbo Limbo is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak June to August. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Gumbo Limbo is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

Take Gumbo Limbo into the field

Open Gumbo Limbo in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Gumbo Limbo: common questions

When is Gumbo Limbo in season?

Gumbo Limbo is generally in season from June to August in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Gumbo Limbo grow?

Gumbo Limbo is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

Is Gumbo Limbo safe to forage?

Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits