Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
South America
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Number of Varieties
354
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Desert, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
13,21,22,23,24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm12.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm8.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
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
-
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand, Sandy
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Sandy
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
All year
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Offsets
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Do not water excessively
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Sandy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Dry
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
-
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Mealy bugs, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Ants, Mealybugs
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Bark, Fruits
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Decoration Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
GYMNOCALYCIUM
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Chin Cactus
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Gymnocalycium
In German
Lignum Vitae
Gymnocalycium
In French
Lignum Vitae
Gymnocalycium
In Spanish
Palo santo
Gymnocalycium
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Gymnocalycium
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Gymnocalycium
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Gymnocalycium
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Gymnocalycium
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Caryophyllales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Gymnocalycium
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Trichocereeae
Subfamily
-
Cactoideae
Number of Species
354
1
27800
👆🏻