Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Typical Red Buckeye, Yellow-flowered Red Buckeye
Number of Varieties
32
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
9-5
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
2a, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Yellow, Red, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Yellow, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Leaf Blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Drought
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Cancer, Hypnotic, Odontalgic, Salve
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Seeds
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Grounded seed is used as a gruel, Used as a soap substitute
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
AESCULUS pavia
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Red Buckeye
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Red Buckeye
In German
Lignum Vitae
Red Buckeye
In French
Lignum Vitae
Red Buckeye
In Spanish
Palo santo
rojo castaño de Indias
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
κόκκινο Buckeye
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Red Buckeye
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Red Buckeye
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Red Buckeye
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Sapindales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Hippocastanaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Aesculus
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Hippocastanoideae
Number of Species
320
1
27800
👆🏻