trefle.io · Taken Dec 27, 2013 by SINAC Pérez Greivin (cc-by-sa)
Zygophyllaceae
Guaiacum
Guaiacum sanctum
Also known as Lignum vitae, Guayacan, Ironwood, Guaiacum verticale
Tropical Plants · Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Lignum Vitae · Tropical Tree · Endangered · Medicinal · Hardwood · Caribbean · Conservation · Slow Growing · Blue Flowers · Zygophyllaceae
Holywood lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum) is a critically endangered tropical tree renowned for its exceptionally hard, resinous wood and vivid blue-purple flowers. It prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained alkaline soil, and warm, frost-free conditions typical of Caribbean and Central American climates. This rare conservation-worthy specimen is best suited to tropical or subtropical gardens and requires patience, as it is extremely slow-growing.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 7 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly until drainage occurs; allow top 2 inches of soil to dry before rewatering · Every 7-14 days depending on season and temperature
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–8.5
- 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, Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Florida, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is.
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Sources: trefle
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