Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Guaiacum officinale
Habitat
Tropical regions
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
10-15
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Olive
Leaf Shape
Oval
Egg-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
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
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
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 for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Laurus nobilis
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Sweetbay
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Laurus nobilis
Lignum Vitae
In German
Echter Lorbeer
Lignum Vitae
In French
Laurus nobilis
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Laurus nobilis
Palo santo
In Greek
Laurus nobilis
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Loureiro
pau-santo
In Polish
Wawrzyn szlachetny
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Laurus nobilis
lignum Vitae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Sapindales
Family
Magnoliaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
-
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
-
Importance of Sweetbay and Lignum Vitae
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Sweetbay and Lignum Vitae. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Sweetbay 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 Sweetbay is Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health and treating poison ivy whereas of Lignum Vitae is . Sweetbay has beauty benefits as follows: For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner and Making cosmetics while Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner and Making cosmetics.
Compare Facts of Sweetbay 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 Sweetbay 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 Sweetbay are allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea and wheezing whereas of Lignum Vitae have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Sweetbay has no showy fruits and Lignum Vitae has showy fruits. Also Sweetbay is not flowering and Lignum Vitae is not flowering . You can compare Sweetbay and Lignum Vitae facts and facts of other plants too.