Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Guaiacum officinale
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
10-15
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
White
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Red
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
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
Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate
Egg-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Shade areas
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Toxic
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Carissia
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Carissa
Lignum Vitae
In German
carissa
Lignum Vitae
In French
carissa
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
carissa
Palo santo
In Greek
carissa
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
carissa
pau-santo
In Polish
carissa
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
carissa
lignum Vitae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Sapindales
Family
Apocynaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
-
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
-
Importance of Carissa and Lignum Vitae
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Carissa and Lignum Vitae. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Carissa and Lignum Vitae as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Carissa is whereas of Lignum Vitae is . Carissa has beauty benefits as follows: while Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Carissa vs Lignum Vitae
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Carissa vs Lignum Vitae and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Carissa are Toxic whereas of Lignum Vitae have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Carissa has showy fruits and Lignum Vitae has showy fruits. Also Carissa is not flowering and Lignum Vitae is not flowering . You can compare Carissa and Lignum Vitae facts and facts of other plants too.