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, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, Gabon, Galápagos, Gambia, Ghana, 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, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Codiferous (en.wikipedia.org) at English Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
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,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (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, bees, crabs, fish nursery
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- 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
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 5–30 days
- Notes:
- Viviparous germination occurs while propagule attached to parent tree. Propagules float and establish rapidly upon reaching suitable substrate within days to weeks.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI