Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Aquatics
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Southern Asia
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Nelumbo nucifera
Number of Varieties
3100
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Ponds
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
21,22
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White, Red, Pink, Light Pink, Hot Pink, Rose, Coral
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Lime Green, Sea Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Lime Green, Sea Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Lime Green, Sea Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Orbicular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, In Water, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
From Rhizomes, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Requires 4 to 8 inches of water above the soil line
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
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Cut away fading foliage
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
20N–4.4P–16.6K at 20-d intervals
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Aphids, Caterpillars
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
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
Beetles, Insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
Constipation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
-
Promotes healthy skin, Provides herbal hair care
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antidiarrhoeal, Astringent, Cancer, Cardiotonic, Febrifuge, Hypotensive, Resolvent, Stomachic, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Leaves are used to wrap small parcels, Roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute, Root is used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
NELUMBO nucifera
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
East Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
पवित्र कमल
In German
Lignum Vitae
Heiliges Lotus
In French
Lignum Vitae
Lotus Sacré
In Spanish
Palo santo
loto sagrado
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
ιερή Lotus
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Lotus sagrado
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Sacred Lotus
In Latin
lignum Vitae
sacra Lotus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Proteales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Nymphaeaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Abelia
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Nelumbonaceae
Number of Species
35
1
27800
👆🏻