Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Eastern Asia, India
Types
Guaiacum officinale
-
Number of Varieties
3-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Temperate Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm120.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm12.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Yellow, Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Succulent
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
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Grafting, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
In Summer
Consistently
Ample Water
In Spring
Average Water
Average Water
In Winter
Moderate
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
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
Prune to stimulate growth
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
fertilize in fall, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Root rot, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
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
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for insects, Very little waste, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Leaves
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Air freshner, Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, Used as Ornamental plant, 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, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
EUPHORBIA lactea
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Mottled Spurge, Frilled Fan, Elkhorn
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Elkhorn
In German
Lignum Vitae
Elkhorn
In French
Lignum Vitae
Elkhorn
In Spanish
Palo santo
cuerno de alce
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Elkhorn
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Elkhorn
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Elkhorn
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Elkhorn
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Malpighiales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Euphorbia
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
-
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
31
1
27800
👆🏻