Conocarpus erectus

Picnic area at Curry Hammock SP © Shirley Denton

Sidewalk planting, Marathon © Shirley Denton

Buttonwood

Form:	Tree
Life Span:	Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:	Yellow,green,NA
Fruit Color:	Brown
Phenology:	Evergreen
Noted for:	Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant, shade tree, hedge. Will tolerate shearing.

Propagation:

Seeds or cuttings.

Availability:

Big box stores, Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

always floodedextremely dry

(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods)

Moisture Tolerance:

Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation)

Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury.

Soil or other substrate:

Lime rock, Sand

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Wildlife:

The seeds are primarily dispersed by water.

Insects:

Nectar source and larval host plant for martial scrub hairstreak (Strymon martialis) and tantalus sphinx (Aellopos tantalus) .

Nectar plant for amethyst hairstreak (Chlorostrymon maesites) and other butterflies.

Native Habitats:

Upper edges of mangrove swamps and on lower parts of dunes.

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 9B

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Ethnobotany:	Wood has been used to make charcoal.
General Comments:	Two color morphs, green and silver. Since it often occurs along the upland margin of mangrove swamps, it is sometimes referred to as the 4th Florida mangrove.