Red mangrove.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Difícil

Tipo de planta

Evergreen tree

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada día

Tamaño adulto

25 to 80 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Medio

Rusticidad

USDA 10 a 12

Floración

Throughout the year

Cuidados

Keep the roots submerged in a brackish water solution to ensure the tree stays hydrated and healthy. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often indicate a need for higher salinity or nutrient adjustments. Ensure the environment stays warm and humid to mimic its native tropical habitat.

Riego

The root system must remain constantly submerged in brackish water.

Abonado

Use a balanced aquatic plant fertilizer during the active growing season.

Poda

Trim back dead or crossing branches once a year to maintain shape.

Trasplante

Move to a larger container only when the root system becomes severely crowded.

Suelo

Peaty or sandy saline mud

pH del suelo

6.0 to 8.0

Temperatura

15 a 35°C

Humedad

70 a 100%

Seguridad

Personas

The bark and leaves contain high levels of tannins which can be irritating if ingested in large quantities.

Niños

The sharp, woody propagules can be a puncture hazard if stepped on or handled roughly.

Alérgenos por contacto

The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

Pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during peak flowering.

Comestibilidad

The plant is not considered edible and contains tannins that may cause digestive distress.

Cómo identificarla

• Arching stilt like prop roots
• Leathery dark green elliptical leaves
• Small yellow four petaled flowers
• Pencil shaped propagules hanging from branches

Altura

3 a 25m

Anchura

2 a 15m

Hojas

dark green, leathery, evergreen

Flores

pale yellow, white, 1 a 2cm

Frutos

brown, Year round

Problemas frecuentes

• Scale insects — Small sap sucking insects that cluster on stems.
• Root rot — Fungal decay occurring if the water becomes stagnant and oxygen depleted.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed, cuttings

Cuándo plantar

spring, summer, autumn, winter

Plant in groups to mimic natural mangrove thickets for better stability and habitat creation.

Buenas compañeras

• Avicennia germinans — They naturally coexist in mangrove forest zones.
• Laguncularia racemosa — This species occupies similar coastal niches.

Especies parecidas

• Avicennia germinans — Shares the same habitat but uses pneumatophores instead of prop roots.
• Laguncularia racemosa — Often found growing slightly further inland in the same ecosystem.

Ciencia

Familia

Rhizophoraceae

Género

Rhizophora

Orden

Malpighiales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Tropical and subtropical coasts of the Americas and West Africa.

Conservación

While widespread, mangrove habitats are protected in many regions due to their critical role in coastal ecosystems.

It survives by excluding salt at the root level and excreting excess salt through its leaves.

Valor para la fauna

nursery for fish, shoreline stabilization, bird nesting site

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas

Usos

coastal protection, habitat restoration, aquarium filtration

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Can I grow this in a regular garden?

No, it requires a specialized brackish or saltwater environment to survive.

How do I propagate it?

Simply place the mature, cigar shaped propagule in a container of water until roots appear.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name Rhizophora comes from the Greek words for root and bearing, referring to its iconic prop roots.

Bueno saberlo

• Red mangroves are viviparous, meaning their seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree.
• They can tolerate high salinity levels that would kill most other plants.
• The tangled root systems provide essential protection for juvenile reef fish.
• They are primary colonizers of new coastal land.