Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa, South Africa
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
253
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
marshes, Sandy flats, Slopes
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-1010-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-7
12-10
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.30 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Orange, Gold
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Reduce watering in winter, Water three times weekly in summer
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
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to control growth, prune to control shape, Prune to stimulate growth
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
-
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, pollinators
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cut Flowers, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Chincherinchee, Wonder-flower, Star-of-Bethlehem
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Chincherinchee
Lignum Vitae
In German
Kap-Milchstern
Lignum Vitae
In French
Chincherinchee
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Chincherinchee
Palo santo
In Greek
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Chinkerinchee
pau-santo
In Polish
Chincherinchee,
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Chincherinchee
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Sapindales
Family
Asparagaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Ornithogalum
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
-
Tribe
Ornithogaleae
-
Subfamily
Scilloideae
-
Number of Species
1803
1
27800
👆🏻