Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs, Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
South-Eastern Asia
Types
Guaiacum officinale
-
Number of Varieties
320
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Semi desert, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12 - 9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
-
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm20.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Elliptic
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
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Needs good drainage
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Don't use high pH fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Aphids, Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Rust, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Allergy
Skin irritation
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection, Treating fever
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Bark, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a laxative
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Container, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
Justicia adhatoda
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Malabar nut, Adulsa, Adhatoda, Vasaka
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
अडुळसा, अडुसा
In German
Lignum Vitae
Indisches Lungenkraut
In French
Lignum Vitae
Justicia adhatoda
In Spanish
Palo santo
Justicia adhatoda
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Justicia adhatoda
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Justicia adhatoda
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Justicia adhatoda
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Justicia adhatoda
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Scrophulariales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Acanthaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Justicia
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Justicieae
Subfamily
-
Acanthoideae
Number of Species
3658
1
27800
👆🏻