Black Mangrove

Avicennia germinans

Native to:
Angola, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Brazil, Cabinda, Cameroon, Cayman Is., Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, Gabon, Galápagos, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Liberia, Mauritania, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Acanthaceae
Genus:
Avicennia
Species:
Avicennia germinans
USDA Symbol:
AVGE

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
1500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
white, yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★★★☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

false-windowed sphinx (Madoryx pseudothyreus), Buckeye butterfly (Junonia sp.), Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva), Tropical Buckeye (Junonia evarete)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Butterflies:Great Southern White (Ascia monuste)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, fish, crustaceans
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
saline, waterlogged, clayey soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
often found in intertidal zones of estuaries

Propagation & Germination

Notes:
Viviparous propagules germinate on the parent tree; no conventional seed germination.