• Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Avicennia germinans

black mangrove

Nomenclature

Common Name:

black mangrove

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Avicennia germinans

Family:

Avicenniaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

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

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

green

Phenology:

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

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Valued as a shoreline stabilization plant. Can also be used for screening.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Stays wet -to- Stays wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

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

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars

Larval host for mangrove buckeye ( Junonia evarete ) butterfly. Nectar plant for a variety of pollinators including the great southern white ( Ascia monuste ) butterfly.  Nectar used by butterflies.  Pollinated by bees, wasps, and flies. (Landry, 2013).

Provides good cover for birds and other wildlife. 

Native Habitats:

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

Comments:

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. Pneumataphores 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.