The silver buttonwood is a Florida native plant known for
its silvery leaves and asymmetrical form that makes both a great small tree or
a fine subject for a hedge. Unlike the normal green buttonwood, the
silver buttonwood leaves are covered in soft, silky hairs that give the silvery
appearance making this plant such a great landscape selection.
Useful in so many ways, the silver buttonwood is a notable
landscape plant.
The silver buttonwood is a naturally occurring variety found
in some Florida coastal environments. Growing upwards to twenty-feet tall
with a similar width, this plant can be used as a small tree for a patio or a
deck in a raised container. More often than not, silver buttonwoods are
planted as informal privacy screens or a neatly clipped formal hedge. In
addition to the silvery leaves, the reddish-brown button-like fruits are also
attractive and noticeable.
Keep in mind that silver buttonwood is hardy in zones 10 to
11. This being the case, in some colder areas of Charlotte County, winter
freeze damage could be experienced. I know this firsthand as I had two
specimens in Port Charlotte freeze back twice to the point where they did not
recover. However, there are many inland microclimates that you can take
advantage of to keep your silver buttonwood warmer during cold spells.
This woody plant does extremely well as a seaside planting (where it would
normally be warmer) and is very salt-tolerant. It also takes a variety of
soil environments and wet or dry conditions.
The attributes of the silver buttonwood make it a sterling
idea for your landscape! For more information on all types of trees and
shrubs suitable for our area , please call our Master Gardener volunteers on
the Plant Lifeline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at
764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension
volunteer. Don't forget to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the
area. Please check this link for a complete list of site locations, dates
and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.
Resources:
Brown, S. H. (2011) Conocarpus erectus. The
University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Lee County.
Gilman, E. F. & Watson, D. G. (2014) Conocarpus
erectus var. sericeus: Silver Buttonwood. The University of
Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Christman, S. (2004) Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus.
Floridata.com. Tallahassee, FL.
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