Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Fruit, Shrub
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
South America
Types
-
V. × heilbornii
Number of Varieties
10
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry Forest, Lowland
Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
11-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Green, Light Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Palmate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove shoots
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Blood purifying
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for birds, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Gout, Rheumatism, Sore throat
Digestive disorders
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Fruits
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
Used in making champagne
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
VASCONCELLEA x heilbornii
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Babaco, Mountain Papaya
In Hindi
Holywood
Babaco
In German
Holywood
Babaco
In French
Holywood
Babaco
In Spanish
Holywood
Babaco
In Greek
Holywood
Babaco
In Portuguese
Holywood
Babaco
In Polish
Holywood
Babaco
In Latin
Holywood
Babaco
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Brassicales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Caricaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Vasconcellea
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Zygophylloideae
-
Number of Species
51
1
27800
👆🏻