Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada
Types
Guaiacum officinale
it is a type of birch
Number of Varieties
33
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
Hillside, Mountain tops
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
7-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm1,680.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Light Yellow, Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Red
Bronze, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Olive
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Olive
Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Egg-shaped
Oval
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
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
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, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Consistently
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth
Prune to half of its height
Fertilizers
Fertilize three times a year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year
Pests and Diseases
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Borers, Chlorosis
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt
-
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
Respiratory problems, Skin rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Sap
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Edible syrup, used for making charcoal, Used for making wood alcohol, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
GUAIACUM sanctum
BETULA alleghaniensis
Common Name
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
Yellow Birch
In Hindi
Lignum Vitae
Yellow Birch
In German
Lignum Vitae
Yellow Birch
In French
Lignum Vitae
bouleau jaune
In Spanish
Palo santo
Abedul amarillo
In Greek
Lignum Vitae
κίτρινο Birch
In Portuguese
pau-santo
κίτρινο Birch
In Polish
Lignum Vitae
żółte brzozy
In Latin
lignum Vitae
Birch flavum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Fagales
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Guaiacum
Betula
Clade
-
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
360
1
27800
👆🏻