Conocarpus erectus
 
Common Names Buttonwood, Button Mangrove, Silver Buttonwood (var. sericeus)
 
Zones 10B–11
 
A rugged, salt-tolerant tree native to coastal Florida, the Caribbean, and tropical Americas, Conocarpus erectus thrives in brackish shorelines, tidal lagoons, and inland hammocks. Its dense, multi-trunked form and tolerance for extreme conditions make it a staple in restoration and urban greening. The silver-leaved variety (C. erectus var. sericeus) is especially prized for its ornamental value in xeric landscapes and bonsai culture2.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Multi-trunked shrub or small tree; upright to spreading
Height: Typically 15–40 ft (4.5–12 m); can reach 66 ft (20 m) in ideal conditions
Leaves: Alternate; oblong; leathery; dark green or silvery (var. sericeus); with salt glands at base
Bark: Thick, scaly, gray to brown; deeply ridged
Flowers: Tiny, greenish; borne in dense cone-like heads; bloom spring to summer
Fruit: Button-like clusters; red to brown; cone-like seeds dispersed by water
Ecology: Native to tidal zones, mangrove margins, and rocky coasts; supports epiphytes and coastal wildlife
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun
Watering: Low to moderate; highly drought and salt tolerant
Soil: Sandy, rocky, or loamy; tolerates poor drainage and alkaline substrates
Temperature: Frost sensitive; protect below 40°F (4°C)
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in coastal humidity
Propagation: Seed or cuttings
Tolerance: Salt spray, urban pollution, compacted soils, pruning
 
Landscape Use Ideal for coastal buffers, xeric gardens, and bonsai. Use as a screen, specimen, or reclamation tree. Pairs well with Laguncularia racemosa, Suriana maritima, and Bucida molinetti.