Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Southern Africa
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Number of Varieties
325
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1512-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Red, Pink, Tan
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Blue Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
-
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
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Average Water
In Winter
Moderate
Once a week
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
No pruning needed in the early stages
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
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
Flies, Insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
Dry Mouth
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Stem
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Can be made into a herbal tea, 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, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
Hoodia gordonii
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
ǁhoba, Ghaap
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Hoodia
In German
Lignum Vitae
Hoodia
In French
Lignum Vitae
Hoodia
In Spanish
Palo santo
Hoodia
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Hoodia
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Hoodia
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Hoodia
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Hoodia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Gentianales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Hoodia
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Stapeliae
Subfamily
-
Asclepiadoideae
Number of Species
325
1
27800
👆🏻