Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
5-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Oval
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Grafting, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Medicinal Uses
-
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
Laurus nobilis
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Sweetbay
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Laurus nobilis
In German
Lignum Vitae
Echter Lorbeer
In French
Lignum Vitae
Laurus nobilis
In Spanish
Palo santo
Laurus nobilis
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Laurus nobilis
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Loureiro
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Wawrzyn szlachetny
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Laurus nobilis
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Laurales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Magnoliaceae
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Monocots
Subfamily
-
Epidendroideae
Importance of Lignum Vitae and Sweetbay
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lignum Vitae and Sweetbay. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lignum Vitae and Sweetbay as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Lignum Vitae is whereas of Sweetbay is Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health and treating poison ivy. Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: while Sweetbay has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Lignum Vitae vs Sweetbay
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Lignum Vitae vs Sweetbay and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Lignum Vitae are Skin irritation whereas of Sweetbay have allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea and wheezing respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lignum Vitae has showy fruits and Sweetbay has no showy fruits. Also Lignum Vitae is not flowering and Sweetbay is not flowering . You can compare Lignum Vitae and Sweetbay facts and facts of other plants too.