Button Mangrove
Conocarpus erectus
Last reviewed: September 2026
Conocarpus erectus, the button mangrove, is an evergreen coastal tree that grows best in full sun and moist to wet soil, with small greenish flower clusters appearing from May through August.
Toxicity unknown
Button Mangrove (Conocarpus erectus) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
144"–360" H × 120"–240" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
FL, TX
Pollinators
bees, flies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Button mangrove is a large native evergreen tree that naturally grows in coastal areas and salt marshes. It develops a broad, rounded canopy and can tolerate salt spray and flooding better than most trees. The small button-like flower clusters appear in summer and develop into cone-shaped seed heads.
Growing Button Mangrove
Grow Button Mangrove in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 144 to 360 inches tall and spread 120 to 240 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Button Mangrove is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, street edge, mid zone.
- Large mature size requires adequate space planning
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees and flies during the long summer blooming period. Birds often use the dense canopy for nesting and shelter.
Common questions
- When does button mangrove bloom?
- Button mangrove typically flowers from May through August, producing small, rounded greenish flower clusters along the branch tips.
- What insects visit button mangrove flowers?
- Bees and flies are commonly seen visiting the small flower heads for nectar during the summer bloom period.
- How much water does button mangrove need?
- This tree prefers consistently moist to wet soil and does well in low-lying coastal or brackish sites, though established trees can handle brief drier spells.
- How much sun does button mangrove need?
- Button mangrove grows best in full sun but can tolerate partial sun, especially in hotter inland plantings.
- Does button mangrove lose its leaves in winter?
- No, it keeps its leathery, gray-green leaves year round and is considered an evergreen tree.
- Is Button Mangrove HOA-friendly?
- Button Mangrove is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Button Mangrove? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz