Common Name:

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Avicennia germinans

Family:

Avicenniaceae

Form:

Size:

15-40 (60) ft tall by 10-30 ft wide

Life Span:

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen. Sends up pheumatophores. Seeds germinate on the tree.

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Considerations:

Availability:

Propagation:

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|- --- <---------> ----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----

Stays Wet ---to--- Stays Wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

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

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

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

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Marine Alluvium

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Coastal mangrove wetlands, usually somewhat upland of the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) when found together.

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The common name black mangrove is a reference to the color of the trunk and heartwood. The plant excretes salt from its leaves, an adaptation to a saline environment. Pneumatophores rise above the substrate and make this an important plant for coastline erosion prevention. This is a protected plant and you may not trim back or gather propagules without permission.