Avicennia germinans

black mangrove

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:

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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.