Bruguiera spp.

orange mangrove

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Bruguiera spp. is a genus of about six species of evergreen mangrove trees in the family Rhizophoraceae, distributed along tropical and subtropical coasts of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, from East Africa through Asia to northern Australia and the Pacific Islands. The trees grow on the landward and middle zones of tidal mudflats and estuaries, where they reach 15 to 115 feet (5 to 35 m) tall depending on species and site. They anchor in soft, salty mud with looping knee roots that arch above the surface for gas exchange. The leathery, elliptic leaves are 3 to 9 inches (8 to 23 cm) long, dark green above and paler beneath. The flowers have a fleshy calyx in red, orange, or cream and are pollinated by birds and insects. Like other mangroves, Bruguiera spp. is viviparous: the seed germinates while still on the tree, forming a cigar-shaped propagule that drops and roots in the mud below. The genus tolerates salt, tidal flooding, and waterlogged soils that exclude most other trees, but is sensitive to frost and prolonged freshwater conditions.

Native Range

Bruguiera spp. is native to the tropical and subtropical Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the coasts of East Africa and the Red Sea through South and Southeast Asia to northern Australia and the western Pacific. It grows in the middle and landward zones of mangrove forests.

Suggested Uses

Planted in mangrove restoration, coastal protection, and shoreline stabilisation projects in the tropics, where the roots trap sediment and buffer wave energy. The timber is used locally for poles, fuel, and charcoal, and the calyces of some species are eaten. It suits only tidal, saline coastal sites rather than ordinary gardens.

How to Identify

Identify Bruguiera spp. by its mangrove habit with looping knee-shaped roots, leathery dark-green elliptic leaves, and solitary flowers held in a ribbed, fleshy calyx coloured red, orange, or cream. The cigar-shaped, pre-germinated propagules hang from the branches before dropping. The knee roots and single-flowered ribbed calyx separate it from Rhizophora spp., which has stilt roots and clustered flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 115'

Width/Spread15' - 30'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering can occur through much of the year in the tropics, with peaks in the warmer, wetter months. The fleshy red to cream calyx persists after the petals fall and accompanies the developing propagule. Birds and insects carry out pollination.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

red, orange, or cream

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

clay silt

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Bruguiera spp. grows in full sun in frost-free tropical and subtropical climates, rooted in soft, saline to brackish tidal mud with a pH of about 6.0 to 8.5. It requires regular tidal inundation or an equivalent cycle of salt water and waterlogging, and declines in permanently fresh or dry conditions. The species are slow to establish but long-lived once rooted. Salt, silt, and low-oxygen mud are tolerated through the knee roots, which must remain partly exposed to air. Frost and hard, compacted soils are the main limits to growth.

Pruning

Little pruning is undertaken in natural settings. Dead or storm-damaged branches are removed to maintain form. The knee roots and lower trunk are left undisturbed, as damage to them impairs the gas exchange the tree relies on.