Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Southwestern United States, California
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
140
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry Forest, Lowland
Dry areas, meadows
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
9-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm61.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Crimson
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
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
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
Do Not over Water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Insects
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Asthma
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
Burns, Snakebite, Stomach aliments
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Whole plant
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
PENSTEMON eatonii
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Firecracker Penstemon
In Hindi
Holywood
Firecracker penstemon
In German
Holywood
Kracher penstemon
In French
Holywood
Firecracker penstemon
In Spanish
Holywood
Penstemon del petardo
In Greek
Holywood
πυροτέχνημα penstemon
In Portuguese
Holywood
Penstemon do foguete
In Polish
Holywood
petarda penstemon
In Latin
Holywood
Firecracker Persicaria
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Sapindales
Lamiales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Penstemon
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Zygophylloideae
-
Number of Species
5250
1
27800
👆🏻