Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Firesticks, Old Man's Beard
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
23
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Hilly upland habitat, Semi desert
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1310-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Red orange
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Yellow green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Light Green, Orange Red
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Tiny
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs good drainage, Water less during winter, Water more in summer
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, 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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Eye irritation, Numb Lips
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Mixed Border, Ornamental use, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough, Ear ache
-
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Latex, Root
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA tirucalli
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire, milk bush, Euphorbia tirucalli
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Sher-kandvel
Lignum Vitae
In German
Bleistiftstrauch
Lignum Vitae
In French
Aveloz
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Pencil Plant
Palo santo
In Greek
Aveloz
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
avelós
pau-santo
In Polish
Aveloz
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Aveloz
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Euphorbiales
Sapindales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
13
1
27800
👆🏻