Native Plants

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A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Friday - February 25, 2011

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Best of Smarty
Title: Using Bumelia for Firewood
Answered by: Mike Tomme

QUESTION:

I have 2 trees in my yard that I think are Gum Bullies. They're tall (25 feet) and straight, thorny, leaves look like live oak, but they're deciduous. I need to remove them and wondered if I could use them for firewood in my fireplace?

ANSWER:

The tree most often referred to as gum bully is Sideroxylon lanuginosum (Gum bumelia). From your description, it could be any of several of that genus.

To get to your question, "Can I use them for firewood in my fireplace?" Using them for firewood is the only thing Mr. Smarty Plants can think of to do with these plants in a fireplace. They will not grow well there.

Seriously, I can think of no reason not to use bumelia for firewood.

From the Image Gallery

Gum bumelia
Sideroxylon lanuginosum