Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
China, Japan
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
-
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
53
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Temperate Regions
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
12-10
Sunset Zone
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
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Silver
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
White, Dark Green, Sienna
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
broad, flat
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Fall, Late Fall
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, root cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Coral Spot, Leaf spot, Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Toxic
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin irritation
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Fixes Nitrogen
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, Antitussive, Astringent
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making hedge
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Elaeagnus pungens
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Silverthorn
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Silverthorn
Lignum Vitae
In German
Silverthorn
Lignum Vitae
In French
Silverthorn
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Silverthorn
Palo santo
In Greek
Silverthorn
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Silverthorn
pau-santo
In Polish
Silverthorn
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Silverthorn
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
-
-
Number of Species
703
1
27800
👆🏻