Woody > Swietenia > Swietenia mahagoni > Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni
Origin: Swietenia mahagoni, also referred to by its common name West Indian Mahogany, is a semi-evergreen tree. The Caribbean, Central America, and South America are all known to be home to this species. This species is prized for having beautiful, black wood with reddish undertones, which has led to over-harvesting and made them an endangered species.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A tree that provides good shade and holds landscape value when planted on street sides. Has visual appeal in its wood and is wind resistant. Overall, a good choice for a street tree in the proper climate.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Meliaceae |
| Genus |
| Swietenia |
| Species |
| mahagoni |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 9 - 11 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 9a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H2 - H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 16 - 32 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 60 - 90 |
| Height |
| 12 - 24 m |
| Spread |
| 10 - 20 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Swietenia mahagoni is a medium-sized semi-evergreen tree. Due to extensive logging throughout the years, this tree is currently endangered in Florida. |
| Landscape |
| In Southern Florida, this tree is commonly grown in landscapes for shade and along streets. |
| Cultivation |
| Typically cultivated in full sun to partial shade on clay, sand, loam, acidic, alkaline, moist, well-drained soils. Optimal with constant watering, however mature trees may tolerate brief dry spells to some extent. |
| Shape |
| Oval, with long branches and house-shaped leaves. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Green Pinnate leaves with grey bark in younger trees, dark brown as it ages. |
| Pests |
| Potential problems for Swietenia mahagoni may be: tent caterpillars, tip moths, webworm, scale, leaf notched, and leaf miner. |
| Habitat |
| Caribbean, Central America, and South America are all known to be home to this species. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark is grey while young, maturing to a darker brown with a rough texture. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Small short and cone-shaped with silky pubescence at bud scales. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves are green and approximately 10 to 20 centimetres long. The leaves come in clusters, with the leaflets being even and connected by a central midrib. Each leaflet is approximately 0.5 centimetres long. |
| Flower Description |
| Each flower is small, with five white to greenish-yellowish petals, and is produced in loose inflorescences. |
| Fruit Description |
| An oval shaped fruit that grows 5 to 12 centimetres in the summer to winter. The fruits covering is a brown woody capsule that splits into 5 even parts when ripe. |
| Colour Description |
| Grey bark that turns to a rich dark brown through its development. |
| Texture Description |
| Tree is medium to coarse textured. |
| Notable Specimens |
| A specimen can be found at Missouri Botanical Garden located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America. |
| Propagation |
| For maximum germination, a period of warm-moist stratification is required, followed by cool satisfaction. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Used for panelling, furniture and flooring. Only occasionally used due to its lack of availability, small size and poor shape. |
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