Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Europe, Russia
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Symphytum officinale (common comfrey), Symphytum asperum (rough comfrey)
Number of Varieties
32
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Cold Regions, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-156-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
21,22
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Red, Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Red, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
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
Medium
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
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Root Division, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Water daily during growing season
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
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 or pinch the stems, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
14-14-14 Fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Aphids, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Shallow soil, Sun
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Ants, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Skin irritation
Antibacterial, Peripheral Edema
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Acne, Beautiful Skin, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Fixes Nitrogen
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Diarrhea, Obesity, Osteoarthritis
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
Symphytum asperum
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Comfrey,Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Blackwort
In German
Lignum Vitae
Blackwort
In French
Lignum Vitae
Blackwort
In Spanish
Palo santo
Blackwort
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Blackwort
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Blackwort
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Blackwort
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Blackwort
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Lamiales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Symphytum
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Boraginoideae
Number of Species
335
1
27800
👆🏻