Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
-
Guaiacum officinale
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
10-15
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Egg-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
-
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
River Birch
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
River Birch
Lignum Vitae
In German
Fluss Birch
Lignum Vitae
In French
Birch river
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
river Birch
Palo santo
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
river Birch
pau-santo
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Betula
lignum Vitae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Betulaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Importance of River Birch and Lignum Vitae
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Lignum Vitae. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch and Lignum Vitae 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 River Birch is whereas of Lignum Vitae is . River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch vs Lignum Vitae
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 River Birch vs Lignum Vitae 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 River Birch are Asthma whereas of Lignum Vitae have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. River Birch has no showy fruits and Lignum Vitae has showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Lignum Vitae is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Lignum Vitae facts and facts of other plants too.