Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida
Meet the Natives: Lignum Vitae
This week, we’re highlighting yet another salt-tolerant plant: Lignum Vitae (Guiacum sanctum).
Lignum Vitae is a slow-growing shrub or tree. Often multi-trunked, it can grow up to 30-40 feet, but is most often 8 feet to 12 feet tall.
“Native to the southern tip of Florida, the Caribbean, and northern South America, Lignum Vitae grows naturally in dry, coastal areas. This makes it a great candidate for planting in dry soil with full sun to part-shade,” said SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center Intern Hadas Hacohen. “Once established, it can survive both drought conditions and saltwater inundation, though it does badly if left in standing water.”
The lignum vitae’s year-round showy blooms and interesting leaves make it an attractive choice for planting, and it’s also good for wildlife. Birds are attracted to its seeds, and its leaves provide food for the caterpillars of the rare Lyside Sulphur Butterfly (Kricogonia lyside).
“Best of all, its salt-tolerance makes it a hurricane survivor, and a great option for replanting,” Hacohen said.
Fun fact — The wood of lignum vitae is some of the hardest and heaviest in the world. Almost impossible to hammer a nail into, and so heavy it sinks in water, other species in the Guiacum genus are often used to make bowling balls, gears, and mallets.
In Florida, lignum vitae is an endangered species.
“With so few wild populations, planting it in your yard is a great way to make sure the species lives on,” Hacohen said.
Learn more or purchase lignum vitae at SCCF’s Native Landscapes & Garden Center, open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at 1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL.
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