Lignum Vitae as the most beautiful entryway plant in South Florida

April is the time of year that lignum vitae is in bloom, which makes up for its drab appearance in February and March.  All of the sudden, the old yellowed leaves drop and are replaced by dark green growth and deep blue flowers.  By fall, the yellow pods will have started to open and the whole tree is covered with seeds surrounded by a deep red aril.

Plant this tree in your front entranceway or somewhere that you can see it clearly.  It is slow growing and as tall as wide.  You will need to stake it for a couple of years to force it into an upright position or just let it spread out as it pleases.  A Lignum Vitae will live for thousands of years and makes a great memorial tree.  It is related to the Creosote Bush of the Southwestern U.S.  This bush lives for 11 thousand years or more.

The wood is very hard and was once used to make bearings for boat propeller shafts.  Of course most were cut down for this purpose so that the plant is now classified as endangered.  To see large specimens, go to Lignum Vitae Key in the Florida Keys.  Key West also has quite a few planted in the city.  It can take 26 degrees, but I wouldn't go farther north than Martin county with it.

I like to use Quailberry, Twinflower, Havana Scullcap or Pineland Snowberry as a low groundcover beneath it.