Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
-
Types
Guaiacum officinale
herbaceous annuals
Number of Varieties
3200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Temperate Regions, Tropical Forests
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
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 cm38.14 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Linear to lanceolate
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
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Root Division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Red 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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Fever, Intestinal irritations, Kidney problems, Respiratory Disorders, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
As a tea substitute, Culinary use, Medicinal oil, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as essential oil, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Hanging Basket, Herb / Vegetable, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
PELARGONIUM 'Bitter Lemon'
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Bitter Lemon Scented Geranium, Scented Geranium
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Pelargonium
In German
Lignum Vitae
Pelargonium
In French
Lignum Vitae
pélargonium
In Spanish
Palo santo
pelargonium
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Pelargonium
In Portuguese
pau-santo
pelargônio
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
pelargonia
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Pelargonium
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Geraniales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Geraniaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Pelargonium
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
3200
1
27800
👆🏻