Silver Mangrove – beautiful and functional

I usually don’t like to choose favourites when it comes to trees as I find them all special in their own way. However, there are many beautiful ornamental trees in the Caribbean that are simply stunning when in bloom.

In Trinidad, the common ones are Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia), Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica), Ylang-Ylang tree (Cananga odorata), Mini Poui tree (sometimes called Dwarf Poui) and Royal Poinciana/Flamboyant (Delonix regia).

Apart from these, there is one that is so beautiful that it has made it into my landscaping at home and this is the Silver Buttonwood tree.

The Silver Buttonwood, commonly known as the Silver Mangrove tree (Conocarpus erectus) and popular for its silvery grey leaves, is a versatile species that is both an ornamental treasure and a coastal protector.

The Silver Buttonwood belongs to the mangrove family but differs from the red, white, and black mangroves. Instead of growing in tidal mudflats, it thrives on slightly higher, drier ground near the sea. It can appear as a small shrub or develop into a stately tree, reaching heights of up to 40 feet.

Its leaves are oval, leathery, and covered in tiny hairs, giving them a silvery sheen that glimmers in the sunlight. Small greenish flowers and button-like seed pods are less showy than its foliage, but they contribute to the tree’s unique character and its beauty.

Its tolerance to salt, heat, and wind has made this species a landscaping favourite across the Caribbean. This tree loves full sun, which helps it develop dense, healthy foliage.

Silver Buttonwood is highly adaptable. It grows well in sandy, rocky, loamy, or even clay soils and can thrive in salty, coastal conditions. While it tolerates wet ground, it prefers well-drained soil in landscape settings.

When I bought my plants, they were no more than two feet in height and placed in pots on my balcony. I left them in heavy rainfall for a week while on vacation.

On my return, they looked almost necrotic. However, I drained the pots and within a week, they were thriving again. Today, one year later, they are in larger pots, healthy and around four feet in height.

The beauty of the Silver Buttonwood comes with the ease of maintenance. You can water regularly for the first 6 to 12 months until the tree is established and after they need little watering. They can withstand dry spells with ease.

One of the tree’s greatest strengths is how well it responds to pruning. Silver Buttonwood can be shaped into hedges, trained as a single ornamental tree with an exposed trunk or cultivated as a bonsai. Light pruning after flowering helps keep the plant compact and encourages new growth.

You can occasionally apply a balanced fertiliser (10-10-10) to enhance foliage colour and density. I usually add the fertiliser every 3 to 4 months. In my pots, I add mulch at the base to help retain soil moisture and improve soil quality. Silver Buttonwood is naturally hardy, with few pests or diseases but be on the lookout for scale insects or sooty mold, which can be treated with neem oil. Also, if you are planting the tree in the ground, it should not be planted too close to paved areas because of the strong roots which can potentially burst through concrete.

You can find the plants at most plant shops, take a cutting or obtain the seeds and germinate them yourself.

The Silver Buttonwood is indeed a living example of how a tree can be both functional and beautiful.

Send questions to rayannaboodram@hotmail.com