Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States
Types
Guaiacum officinale
Penstemon
Number of Varieties
315
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Fields, open Woodlands, Wood Margins
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-153-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 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 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Lance-shaped to oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Root Division, Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
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
Complete balanced fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Leaf spot, Root rot
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
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
Mild Allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders, Wild gardens
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Tooth ache
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Root
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
PENSTEMON digitalis 'Husker Red'
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Husker Red Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Talus Slope Penstemon
In German
Lignum Vitae
Gehängeschutt Penstemon
In French
Lignum Vitae
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Spanish
Palo santo
Astrágalo pendiente Penstemon
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
Αστράγαλος Κλίση Penstemon
In Portuguese
pau-santo
Talus Penstemon Slope
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Talus Clivo Persicaria
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Scrophulariales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Penstemon
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
3280
1
27800
👆🏻