Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Tree
  
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
  
Caribbean, South America
  
Types
not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
  
Primary Rainforest, Riverbanks, subtropical regions, Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
12-9
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
  
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
  
Light Yellow, Light Green, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
  
Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
  
Circular and deeply palmately-lobed
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
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 Fast
  
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
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
  
Not Available
  
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
  
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
  
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
  
Not Available
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Not Available
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
  
Birds, Fruit Bats
  
Allergy
Skin irritation
  
Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Antidiabetic, Asthma
  
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
  
Bark, Fruits, Latex, Leaves
  
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
  
Used in making tea, Used in pies, cakes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
  
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
  
CECROPIA palmata
  
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
  
Snakewood Tree
  
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
  
Snakewood Tree
  
In German
Lignum Vitae
  
Schlangenholz -Baum
  
In French
Lignum Vitae
  
Amourette Arbre
  
In Spanish
Palo santo
  
Árbol de madera de serpiente
  
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
  
Snakewood Tree
  
In Portuguese
pau-santo
  
Snakewood Tree
  
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
  
Snakewood Tree
  
In Latin
lignum Vitae
  
Snakewood Tree
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Eudicotyledoneae
  
Order
Sapindales
  
Rosales
  
Family
Zygophyllaceae
  
Urticaceae
  
Genus
Guaiacum
  
Cecropia
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available