Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
North America
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Water elm
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Floodplains, Hillside, stream banks, Swamps, Upland
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
3-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Light Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
-
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Oblique base
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Early Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Cold climate, Drought, Pollution, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
In Summer
Consistently
Ample Water
In Spring
Average Water
Average Water
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Remove dead branches, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
Fertilize every year, fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Bark beetles, Beetles, Borers, Mites, Moth, Red blotch, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
allergic reaction, Asthma
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Food for birds, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
-
Antispasmodic, Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Bark, Stem, Tree trunks, Wood
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used as firewood, Used for woodware, Used in biomass, Used in construction, Used in Furniture, Used in paper industry, Used in pulpwood and lumber production, Wood is used for making furniture, Wood is used for ship building, Wood is used fore making tools, Wood is used in construction, Wood log is used in making fences
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
ULMUS americana
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
American Elm
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
अमेरिकी एल्म
In German
Lignum Vitae
amerikanische Ulme
In French
Lignum Vitae
orme d'Amérique
In Spanish
Palo santo
olmo americano
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
American Elm
In Portuguese
pau-santo
olmo americano
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Amerykański wiązu
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Latin ulmo
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Ulmaceae
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Lignum Vitae and Elm
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lignum Vitae and Elm. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lignum Vitae and Elm as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Lignum Vitae is whereas of Elm is Antispasmodic and Astringent. Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: while Elm has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Lignum Vitae vs Elm
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Lignum Vitae vs Elm and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Lignum Vitae are Skin irritation whereas of Elm have allergic reaction and Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lignum Vitae has showy fruits and Elm has no showy fruits. Also Lignum Vitae is not flowering and Elm is not flowering . You can compare Lignum Vitae and Elm facts and facts of other plants too.