The native lignumvitae, Guaiacum sanctum
L., has many desirable features as a small orna
mental tree or shrub and was listed by Ruehle
(4) as a potential ornamental plant for south
Florida. It has evergreen compact foliage, abun
dant blue flowers usually in the spring and fall,
clusters of opened fruits displaying bright red
arils against an orange ovary wall, and a good
natural growth form that can be modified by
pruning.