trefle.io · Taken Aug 6, 2022 by Setrak Khrimian (cc-by-sa)
Zygophyllaceae
Guaiacum
Guaiacum officinale
Also known as Guaiacum bijugum, Guayacan, Guaiacum breynii, Tree of life
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Tropical Tree · Medicinal · Hardwood · Endangered · Caribbean · Slow Growing · Ornamental · Violet Flowers · Rare · Conservation
Guaiacum is an exceptionally slow-growing tropical tree prized for its dense hardwood, beautiful violet-blue flowers, and long history of medicinal use. It requires a warm, frost-free environment with full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Patience is essential — this tree grows only a few inches per year but rewards the dedicated gardener with long-lived ornamental beauty.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings as established plants tolerate brief dry spells · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 4 ft
- Spacing
- 120 in apart
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Blue
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Aruba, Ascension, Bahamas, Cayman Is., Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Florida, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Marianas, Netherlands Antilles, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle
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