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Native Plant Database

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Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq.

West Indian mahogany

Meliaceae (Mahogany Family)

USDA Symbol: SWMA2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Usually growing to a height of 50 ft., this mahogany has a well-shaped dense crown of compound leaves with 4-8 leaflets. It is nearly evergreen since old leaves are shed suddenly in spring and replaced quickly with new one. Greenish flowers are fairly inconspicuous and are followed by a large, brown pod. Crown large, dense, rounded; trunk buttressed.

This small tree is a native of Florida, the Caribbean, and South America. It has decreased in number over the last several centuries as it has been exploited for its rich hard wood and it has lost considerable habitat to development. Forced to grow in poor habitat conditions, it very often doesnt reach tree-size, growing as a shrub instead.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Fruit:
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Notes: The flowers are produced in loose inflorescences, each flower small, with five white to greenish-yellowish petals.

Distribution

USA: FL
Native Distribution: S. FL
Native Habitat: Coastal hammocks
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(I), PR(N), VI(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Well-drained soil.
Conditions Comments: An attractive tree for roadside and home plantings. Requires almost no attention.

Propagation

Description: Propagation is by seed and is quite easy.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Native Plant Nursery - Sanibel, FL

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Swietenia mahagoni in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Swietenia mahagoni in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Swietenia mahagoni

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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