Conocarpus erectus

buttonwood

Combretaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

20-40 (50) ft tall by 20-40 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow,green,NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Flowers and fruits all year. Long-lived (Nelson 2003).

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

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

Considerations:

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Suitable to Grow In:

9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars

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.


Attracts bees ( http://www.tcbeekeepers.org/ ).

The seeds are primarily dispersed by water.

Native Habitats:

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