Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Tree
Origin
South America
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
543
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Semi desert
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1210-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
13,21,22,23,24
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
12.50 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
8.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
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
-
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
All year
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Sand, Sandy
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Sandy
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Offsets
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
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
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Dry
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Root rot
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
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
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Mealybugs
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes
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, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
GYMNOCALYCIUM
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Chin Cactus
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Gymnocalycium
Lignum Vitae
In German
Gymnocalycium
Lignum Vitae
In French
Gymnocalycium
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Gymnocalycium
Palo santo
In Greek
Gymnocalycium
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Gymnocalycium
pau-santo
In Polish
Gymnocalycium
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Gymnocalycium
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Sapindales
Family
Cactaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Gymnocalycium
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
-
Tribe
Trichocereeae
-
Subfamily
Cactoideae
-
Number of Species
543
1
27800
👆🏻