Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
Southwestern United States
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Muhlenbergia rigens, Muhlenbergia emersleyi
-
Number of Varieties
51
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Sandy areas
Dry Forest, Lowland
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
12-10
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long linear and narrow
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
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
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season, Water occasionally
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in spring
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
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
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Deers, Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Ground Cover, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
Blood purifying
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Nesting sites for birds, Shelter for wildlife
Food for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Sore throat
anti-inflammatory, Gout, Rheumatism, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
MUHLENBERGIA rigens
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Deer Grass
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
हिरण घास
Holywood
In German
Deer Grass
Holywood
In French
cerfs Herbe
Holywood
In Spanish
Ciervo Hierba
Holywood
In Greek
ελάφια Grass
Holywood
In Portuguese
cervos grama
Holywood
In Polish
Deer Trawa
Holywood
In Latin
deer Grass
Holywood
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Anthophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Sapindales
Family
Poaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Muhlenbergia
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Chloridoideae
Zygophylloideae
Number of Species
405
1
27800
👆🏻