Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
33
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Dark Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Broad, Unlobed
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
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
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
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
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Wet Site
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
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
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, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
THEOBROMA cacao
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
कोको संयंत्र
Lignum Vitae
In German
Kakaopflanze
Lignum Vitae
In French
usine de cacao
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
planta del cacao
Palo santo
In Greek
φυτό του κακάο
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
planta do cacau
pau-santo
In Polish
Kakao roślin
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Cocos herba
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malvales
Sapindales
Family
Sterculiaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Theobroma
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Theobromeae
-
Subfamily
Byttneroideae
-
Number of Species
223
1
27800
👆🏻