Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Southeastern Asia, India, China
Types
-
Tropical Fruit Tree
Number of Varieties
110
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry Forest, Lowland
Subtropical forests, Tropical Forests
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Green, Yellow green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Oblong or Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Put diluted fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Chlorosis, Susceptible to insect pests and moulds
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Drought
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
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
Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, antimicrobial, Astringent, Expectorant
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
Jam, Jelly, used in Indian cuisine in curries
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
DILLENIA indica
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Chulta, Elephant Apple
In Hindi
Holywood
Elephant Apple
In German
Holywood
Elefant von Apple
In French
Holywood
Elephant d'Apple
In Spanish
Holywood
El elefante de Apple
In Greek
Holywood
ελέφαντας της Apple
In Portuguese
Holywood
Elefante da Apple
In Polish
Holywood
Słoń Jabłko
In Latin
Holywood
Elephant Apple
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Dilleniales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Dilleniaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Dillenia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Zygophylloideae
-
Number of Species
51
1
27800
👆🏻