Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
South America
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Peruvian peppertree, peppercorn tree, Peruvian mastic
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
1003
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, open Woodlands
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Weeping
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,219.20 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,219.20 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Yellow
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Pink, Rose
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Late Winter
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Water Deeply
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
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut limbs, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Pollution
Drought, Salt
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Irritate the mucus membrane
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Antirheumatic, Appetizer, Digestive, Miscellany, Purgative
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Condiment, Gum
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Feature Plant, Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
SCHINUS molle
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Peppertree
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Peppertree
Lignum Vitae
In German
Peppertree
Lignum Vitae
In French
Peppertree
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
peppertree
Palo santo
In Greek
Peppertree
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Peppertree
pau-santo
In Polish
Peppertree
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Peppertree
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Vascular plant
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Sapindales
Family
Anacardiaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Schinus
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Anacardioideae
-
Number of Species
6003
1
27800
👆🏻