Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
-
Types
Guaiacum officinale
-
Number of Varieties
312
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
All sorts of environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-157-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
9-6
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm240.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Red
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
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Oval
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
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Spring, Late Spring, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Budding, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Average Water Needs
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Cut leaves after fall, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Aphids, Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, Rats, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Dry soil, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
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
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
allergic conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Respiratory problems
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Beautiful Skin, Good for the Scalp, Moisturizing, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Food for animals, Insect Repellent, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Acne, Dysentry, Nutritive, osteoporosis
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Animal Feed, Application in Handicrafts, Biomass for fuel, Oil is used for aromatherapy
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
Arbutus menziesii
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Arbutus
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
सदाबहार
In German
Lignum Vitae
Erdbeerbaum
In French
Lignum Vitae
arbousier
In Spanish
Palo santo
Arbitus
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
κουμαριά
In Portuguese
pau-santo
árbuto
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
mącznik
In Latin
lignum Vitae
arbutus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Sapindales
Ericales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Arbutus
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Arbutoideae
Number of Species
38
1
27800
👆🏻