Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
253
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-10
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink, Tan
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Gray Green
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
-
Egg-shaped
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
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Average Water
Average Water
In Winter
Once a week
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, 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
No pruning needed in the early stages
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
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
Flies, Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Dry Mouth
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for insects
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Weight loss
-
Part of Plant Used
Stem
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
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, Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Hoodia gordonii
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
ǁhoba, Ghaap
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Hoodia
Lignum Vitae
In German
Hoodia
Lignum Vitae
In French
Hoodia
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Hoodia
Palo santo
In Greek
Hoodia
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Hoodia
pau-santo
In Polish
Hoodia
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Hoodia
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Sapindales
Family
Apocynaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Hoodia
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
-
Tribe
Stapeliae
-
Subfamily
Asclepiadoideae
-
Number of Species
253
1
27800
👆🏻