Buttonwood

Conocarpus erectus

Exotic

Commonly known as Green Buttonwood, Cono Carpus.

An evergreen tree or shrub, 4-20 metres tall, that grows in two distinct forms side by side in the wild, one with ordinary green leaves, the other (var. sericeus) with striking silvery foliage. Native to coastal America and West Africa, it's found where mangroves meet dry land, and has since been widely planted elsewhere for its toughness.

The plant

Habit Tree, Shrub

Origin Exotic

Flowering Summer, Monsoon, Winter

Edible No

Growing it

Sun Full sun

Water Drought tolerant once established

Soil Sandy

Soil pH 5–7.5

Life it supports

No specific wildlife-relationship data recorded for this species.

The story

No cultural-significance data recorded for this species.

What it is used for

Bark contains tannins with astringent medicinal properties, and leaves and bark are also used for dyeing.
The tree takes well to trimming and is often grown as a hedge or screen, propagated easily from large cuttings, and has become a popular land-reclamation species in places like the UAE, used specifically to green and desalinate desert land.
Its wood is exceptionally heavy, hard, and durable even in soil contact, prized for fence posts, boat building, and furniture, and makes a slow-burning fuel and excellent charcoal.

These uses are documented for information only and are not medical advice. Always verify the species and the plant part before use.

Where it is found

Coastal tropical America (Florida through the Caribbean and Central America to Brazil and Peru) and West Africa from Senegal to Angola, typically in salt and brackish mud flats on the landward side of mangrove forests.

Sources

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