Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Southwestern United States, Mexico
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Chilopsis linearis
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
123
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas, Semi desert
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-5
12-10
Sunset Zone
3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Lavender
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
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, Late Summer, Early Fall
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering
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
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
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
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-fungal, Cough, Wounds
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Stem
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CHILOPSIS linearis
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Desert Willow
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
रेगिस्तान विलो
Lignum Vitae
In German
Wüsten Weide
Lignum Vitae
In French
desert Willow
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Desert Willow
Palo santo
In Greek
έρημο Willow
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Willow deserto
pau-santo
In Polish
desert Willow
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
desert Willow
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Sapindales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Chilopsis
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
-
Tribe
Tecomeae
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
703
1
27800
👆🏻