Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Palm or Cycad
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Madagascar
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
Number of Varieties
31
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Hot climate regions, Humid climates, Loamy soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm240.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Acicular
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Needs a lot of water initially
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, 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
Prune to stimulate growth
Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves, Remove old, faded fronds
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
Magnesium, Nitrogen, Potassium, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Bark beetles, Moth, Ring Rot, Rust, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Heat Tolerance, Soil Compaction, Sun
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Flies, Mites, Woodpeckers
Allergy
Skin irritation
drowsiness, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Decorating walls, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Making cosmetics, Removes dandruff, Skin inflammation
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Anemia, Chronic fatigue, Cyanide Poisoning, Digestion problems, Emmoiliant, Fights Depression, High cholestrol, Indigestion, Skin Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Fruits, Leaves, Tree trunks
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Basketary, Biomass for fuel, For making oil, Jelly, Sometimes used for making wine, Traditionally considered as lucky plant, 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, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
HYOPHORBE lagenicaulis
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Bottle Palm
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Palm
In German
Lignum Vitae
Palme
In French
Lignum Vitae
Paume
In Spanish
Palo santo
Palma
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Παλάμη
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Palma
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Palma
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Vero
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Arecales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Arecaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Archontophoenix
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Areceae
Subfamily
-
Arecoideae
Number of Species
36
1
27800
👆🏻