Honduras Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
- Native to:
- Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Peru
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Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Meliaceae
- Genus:
- Swietenia
- Species:
- Swietenia macrophylla
- USDA Symbol:
- SWMA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 4500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- green, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers deep soils with high organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are recalcitrant and lose viability quickly; sow fresh seeds immediately after collection for best results.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds do not require pre-treatment due to their high germination rates, although soaking seeds 24 hours at ambient temperature can improve germination. Seeds should be dewinged to fit into containers. Some authors recommend sowing the seed horizontally to avoid shoot deformations, although seeds are also commonly sown wing up or down.
Establishment: Direct sowing in containers is recommend to avoid j-rooting of the tap root. Genetic quality of Honduras mahogany varies widely, select seed matched to the outplanting site conditions should be obtained if possible for best growth and yield. Seeds should be collected while pods are still closed, but brown in color, not green.
Source: npn.rngr.net