Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Southeastern Asia
Types
-
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Number of Varieties
1200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry Forest, Lowland
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Dark Green, Ivory
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
V-Shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full 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
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container
How to Plant?
Seedlings
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
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
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Allergy
Skin irritation
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Blood purifying
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for birds, Shadow Tree
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Gout, Rheumatism, Sore throat
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
Used As Food, 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, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Elephant Ear, Taro
In Hindi
Holywood
अरवी
In German
Holywood
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
Holywood
Colocasia
In Spanish
Holywood
Colocasia
In Greek
Holywood
Colocasia
In Portuguese
Holywood
Colocasia
In Polish
Holywood
Kolokazja
In Latin
Holywood
Colocasia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Arales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Araceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Alocasia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Zygophylloideae
Aroideae
Number of Species
510
1
27800
👆🏻