Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
North America, Alaska, Canada
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
-
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
103
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Hedge, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-610-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
6-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Tan
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lanceolate
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Hardwood Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
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
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
Phosphorous, Use nitrogen rich soil
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Rust
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
-
Fine
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Scale Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Fixes Nitrogen
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Salve
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Jelly, Used for making soaps, Used to flavour soups
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ELAEAGNUS commutata
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Silverberry, Wolf-Willow
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Silverberry
Lignum Vitae
In German
Silverberry
Lignum Vitae
In French
Silverberry
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Silverberry
Palo santo
In Greek
Silverberry
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Silverberry
pau-santo
In Polish
Silverberry
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Silverberry
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rhamnales
Sapindales
Family
Elaeagnaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Elaeagnus
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Elaeagnoideae
-
Number of Species
703
1
27800
👆🏻