LIGNUM VITAE
Guaiacum officinale
FAMILY Zygophyllaceae
SYNONYMS
ADDITIONAL COMMON NAMES
GUAYACAN
GUAIACWOOD
GUAIAC TREE
LIGNUM-VITAE
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See: all Guaiacum
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by M. Ritter, J. Reimer, P. Ruisi-Besares, J. Yost
GENERAL INFO
Lignum vitae, the national tree of Jamaica, is a slow-growing, often multi-stemmed small tree with the world's most dense wood. Its purple flowers are produced in late spring or summer followed by profuse orange fruit in late summer and fall. A resin derived from the wood of this tree is used medicinally. It has a HPWRA (Hawai‘i Pacific Weed Risk Assessment) score of -6;(Low Risk), and the Plant Pono link is; https://plantpono.org/pono-plants/guaiacum-officinale/.
Native range: Tropical AmericasHorticultural use: Seaside Tree or Street Tree or Flowering Tree or Xerophytic or BonsaiEthnobotanical Info / Tree Use: The Taino people of the Caribbean used the dense, dark wood of Guaiacum officinale to carve ceremonial figurines; the humanoid figures were meticulously fashioned from the heartwood, then polished with dark resin and adorned with shells. Guaiacum officinale was used for these carvings because the Taino believed the trees themselves were animated with powerful spirits. These pre-contact figurines date to the 10th century AD and are of great cultural and spiritual value. G. officinale is also an important medicinal tree to the Indigenous people of the West Indies, where it is used for its anti-inflammatory properties and to induce abortion. This species is the national tree of Jamaica, where it is known as lignum vitae, ‘the tree of life’. (Ostapkowicz et al., 2011) Citations Page
Native range: Tropical AmericasHorticultural use: Seaside Tree or Street Tree or Flowering Tree or Xerophytic or BonsaiEthnobotanical Info / Tree Use: The Taino people of the Caribbean used the dense, dark wood of Guaiacum officinale to carve ceremonial figurines; the humanoid figures were meticulously fashioned from the heartwood, then polished with dark resin and adorned with shells. Guaiacum officinale was used for these carvings because the Taino believed the trees themselves were animated with powerful spirits. These pre-contact figurines date to the 10th century AD and are of great cultural and spiritual value. G. officinale is also an important medicinal tree to the Indigenous people of the West Indies, where it is used for its anti-inflammatory properties and to induce abortion. This species is the national tree of Jamaica, where it is known as lignum vitae, ‘the tree of life’. (Ostapkowicz et al., 2011) Citations Page
TREE CHARACTERISTICS
Tree Shape: RoundedFoliage Type: EvergreenMaximum Tree Height: 25 feetCanopy Width: 10-25 feetGrowth Rate: ~12 in/yearLeaf Arrangement and Leaf Form: Opposite, Pinnately CompoundLeaf Shape: OvalLeaf color: Dark GreenFlowers: ShowyFlower Color: BlueFlower Time: Fall, Spring or SummerFruit: Medium Orange-Yellow CapsuleFruiting time: Fall, Spring or SummerFruit Value: Wildlife use itBark Color: Light Gray, Light Brown, Scaly, SmoothLitter Type: Dry Fruit, Leaves, Flowers
SITE CONDITIONS
Recommended Planting Area: 4' to 7'Water Use Rating: MediumSunset Climate Zone: H1, H2Shade Tolerance: NoUSDA Hardiness Zone: 10, 11, 12Soil Texture: Loam or ClaySalt Tolerance: ModerateWind Resistance: Highest
CONSIDERATIONS
Wildlife interactions: Attracts bees, birdsUtility Friendly: NoWCISA Appraisal: Suggested LCANT 24" box, Suggested LCANT 24" box, Group Rating 1, Approx. cross sectional area 2.09 sq. in.
External Resources
CITE THIS TREE
"SelecTree. UFEI. "Guaiacum officinale Tree Record." 1995-2025. Cal
Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. Accessed on Jun 20, 2025."
< https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/1665 >
< https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/1665 >
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