Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Eastern Asia, India
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
-
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
-3
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Temperate Regions, Tropical regions
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
120.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
12.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Yellow green
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Pink
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
Green
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Ample Water
Consistently
In Spring
Average Water
Average Water
In Winter
Less Watering
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
fertilize in fall, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, Nitrogen
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Root rot, Scale
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for insects, Very little waste, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Air freshner, Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, 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, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA lactea
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Mottled Spurge, Frilled Fan, Elkhorn
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Elkhorn
Lignum Vitae
In German
Elkhorn
Lignum Vitae
In French
Elkhorn
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
cuerno de alce
Palo santo
In Greek
Elkhorn
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Elkhorn
pau-santo
In Polish
Elkhorn
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Elkhorn
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Sapindales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
13
1
27800
👆🏻