Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
North America
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Water elm
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
353
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Floodplains, Hillside, stream banks, Swamps, Upland
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,830.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblique base
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Cold climate, Drought, Pollution, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Ample Water
Consistently
In Spring
Average Water
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead branches, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
Fertilize every year, fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Bark beetles, Beetles, Borers, Mites, Moth, Red blotch, Scale
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
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
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
allergic reaction, Asthma
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Food for birds, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antispasmodic, Astringent
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Stem, Tree trunks, Wood
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used as firewood, Used for woodware, Used in biomass, Used in construction, Used in Furniture, Used in paper industry, Used in pulpwood and lumber production, Wood is used for making furniture, Wood is used for ship building, Wood is used fore making tools, Wood is used in construction, Wood log is used in making fences
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ULMUS americana
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
American Elm
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
अमेरिकी एल्म
Lignum Vitae
In German
amerikanische Ulme
Lignum Vitae
In French
orme d'Amérique
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
olmo americano
Palo santo
In Greek
American Elm
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
olmo americano
pau-santo
In Polish
Amerykański wiązu
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Latin ulmo
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Sapindales
Family
Ulmaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Ulmus
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
403
1
27800
👆🏻