Red mangrove.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Difficile

Type de plante

Evergreen tree

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les jours

Taille adulte

25 to 80 feet

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 10 à 12

Floraison

Throughout the year

Entretien

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.

Arrosage

The root system must remain constantly submerged in brackish water.

Engrais

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

Taille

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

Rempotage

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

Sol

Peaty or sandy saline mud

pH du sol

6.0 to 8.0

Température

15 à 35°C

Humidité

70 à 100%

Sécurité

Humains

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

Enfants

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

Allergènes de contact

The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergènes aéroportés

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

Comestibilité

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

Comment l'identifier

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

Hauteur

3 à 25m

Envergure

2 à 15m

Feuilles

dark green, leathery, evergreen

Fleurs

pale yellow, white, 1 à 2cm

Fruits

brown, Year round

Problèmes courants

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

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed, cuttings

Quand planter

spring, summer, autumn, winter

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

Bonnes associations

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

Espèces similaires

• 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.

Science

Famille

Rhizophoraceae

Genre

Rhizophora

Ordre

Malpighiales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Tropical and subtropical coasts of the Americas and West Africa.

Préservation

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.

Intérêt pour la faune

nursery for fish, shoreline stabilization, bird nesting site

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

coastal protection, habitat restoration, aquarium filtration

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

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.

D'où vient le nom

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

Bon à savoir

• 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.