Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen, Vines
Tree
Origin
India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Red pepper, Orange pepper
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
73
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Moist Soils, orchards, Temperate Regions
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Green, Light Green
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Dark Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green, Dark Green
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Circular cordate
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Sprinkle water over foliage, Water every two or three days during warmer months
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Remove dead branches, Trim each shoot back to the first set of leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
10-10-10 diluted liquid fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Do not let fertilizers touch the leaves
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Beetles, Root rot, Rust, Scab
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
Flowers
-
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Leafminer, Snails, Squirrels
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Oral Allergy
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Decorating walls
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Blackheads
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Fixes Nitrogen, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acid Reflux, Dysentry, Healthy teeth, Inflammation, Oral health
-
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used in herbal medicines
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Piper nigrum
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Peppercorn, Piper, Black pepper
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
काली मिर्च
Lignum Vitae
In German
Pfeffer
Lignum Vitae
In French
Piper nigrum
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Poivrier noir
Palo santo
In Greek
μαύρο πιπέρι
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Pimenta-preta
pau-santo
In Polish
Pieprz czarny
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
nigrum piperis
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Piperales
Sapindales
Family
Piperaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Piper
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
11003
1
27800
👆🏻