Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
-
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
-
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
123
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
All sorts of environments
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-6
12-10
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
240.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark 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
Oval
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
Slow
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Budding, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Average Water Needs
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut leaves after fall, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, fertilize in growing season
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, Rats, Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought, Salt
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
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Respiratory problems
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Beautiful Skin, Good for the Scalp, Moisturizing, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Food for animals, Insect Repellent, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Dysentry, Nutritive, osteoporosis
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Application in Handicrafts, Biomass for fuel, Oil is used for aromatherapy
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Arbutus menziesii
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Arbutus
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
सदाबहार
Lignum Vitae
In German
Erdbeerbaum
Lignum Vitae
In French
arbousier
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Arbitus
Palo santo
In Greek
κουμαριά
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
árbuto
pau-santo
In Polish
mącznik
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
arbutus
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Sapindales
Family
Ericaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Arbutus
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Arbutoideae
-
Number of Species
83
1
27800
👆🏻