Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
North America
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Prunus virginiana
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
303
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Moist Soils, open Woodlands, Pine barrens, Swamps
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-810-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 10, 16
H1, H2
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
550.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove branches that rub together, Remove dead branches
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
-
Fine
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Bronchitis, Cough, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fever, Stomach Ulcers
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used As Food
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
PRUNUS virginiana
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Wild black cherry, Cherry bark
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Chokecherry
Lignum Vitae
In German
Chokecherry
Lignum Vitae
In French
Chokecherry
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Chokecherry
Palo santo
In Greek
Chokecherry
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Chokecherry
pau-santo
In Polish
Chokecherry
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
chokecherry
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Sapindales
Family
Rosaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Prunus
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Amygdaleae
-
Subfamily
Amygdaloideae
-
Number of Species
253
1
27800
👆🏻