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Guaiacum angustifolium
Texas lignum-vitae is a slow-growing, evergreen, drought-tolerant shrub or small tree native to southern Texas and northern Mexico, grown for its dense foliage and fragrant flowers. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and needs little water once established.
Guaiacum angustifolium is a species of flowering plant in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae. Common names include Texas guaiacum, Texas lignum-vitae, soapbush and huayacán. It is native to southern and western Texas in the United States and northern Mexico. The specific name is derived from the Latin angustus, meaning "narrow," and -folius, meaning "-leaved".
In Texas, this tree can be found in the area around the Rio Grande, including Austin, Matagorda Bay, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Brownsville and Fort McIntosh westward to the Rio Pecos. In the 19th century, trees growing along the outskirts of this region were so small they were described by the United States Department of Interior as "low shrub(s)". The largest examples could be found on the hillsides near the Guadalupe River valley. In Mexico, the plant is found in the states of Chihuahua, San Luis Potosí, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.
Like other species in its genus, the wood of G. angustifolium has extreme hardness and density and will sink in water. The sapwood is creamy yellow, while the heartwood is dark purple-brown. The wood is used for fence posts, tool handles, and firewood. Root extracts are used to treat rheumatism and sexually transmitted diseases. Soap can be made from the root bark, as it contains saponin; historically soap made in this way would be used to wash wool, since it does not fade the dyed-colors. The bark of the roots is also used as a disinfectant. The flowers are valued by beekeepers for their consistent nectar production. Texas lignum-vitae is cultivated as an ornamental because of its drought tolerance, dense foliage, compact size, gnarled branches, and fragrant flowers. It is used in hedges, rock gardens, and xeriscaping.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Guaiacum angustifolium by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
