Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
North America, Europe, Africa, Asia
Types
Guaiacum officinale
-
Number of Varieties
31
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Alpine Meadows, meadows, Mountains, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
21,22
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm91.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Crimson, Pink, Red, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Keep the Soil well drained, occasional watering once established
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Prune after flowering, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, Organic Flower Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Aphids, Bacteria wilt, Pink Root, Red blotch, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Shallow soil, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Showy
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
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Red eyes, Vomiting, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Provides ground cover
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anti-oxidant, Eczema, hemorrhoids
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Leaf Stalks, Stem
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
Spigelia marilandica
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Woodland pinkroot, Indian pink
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
pinkroot
In German
Lignum Vitae
Spigelia
In French
Lignum Vitae
Spigelia
In Spanish
Palo santo
Spigelia
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Spigelia
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Spigelia
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Spigelia
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Spigelia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Gentianales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Loganiceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Spigelia
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
360
1
27800
👆🏻