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Bruguiera gymnorhiza

orange mangrove

Rhizophoraceae Indo-West Pacific

Attracts Pollinators

SunFull Sun

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 11–12

Overview

Bruguiera gymnorhiza is an evergreen mangrove tree reaching 30-115 feet (9-35 m) in its tallest stands, though many coastal trees stay below 50 feet (15 m). It develops a buttressed trunk and a network of looping knee roots that project above the mud, drawing air in waterlogged, oxygen-poor soils. The leaves are opposite, leathery, elliptic, and 3-7 inches (8-18 cm) long, dark green above and paler beneath. Single flowers hang from the leaf axils, each with a fleshy, ribbed calyx 0.8-1.4 inches (2-3.5 cm) long that turns from green to deep red or orange, the feature behind the common name orange mangrove. After flowering the tree produces viviparous propagules, cigar-shaped seedlings 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) long that germinate while still attached and drop into the mud or float to new sites. It grows in the mid to landward zones of tidal estuaries and tolerates salt and regular tidal flooding. The species is restricted to frost-free tropical and subtropical coasts and cannot grow away from saline, tidal conditions.

Native Range

Bruguiera gymnorhiza ranges across the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa through tropical Asia to northern Australia and the western Pacific islands. It grows in tidal estuaries and the landward zone of mangrove forests on muddy, saline soils.

Suggested Uses

Used in mangrove restoration and coastal protection projects on tropical estuaries. The timber is used locally for firewood, poles, and charcoal, and the tannin-rich bark for dyeing. Has no role in conventional gardens because of its strict tidal requirements.

How to Identify

Identified by looping knee roots projecting from the mud around a buttressed trunk, opposite leathery leaves 3-7 inches (8-18 cm) long, and pendent flowers with a ribbed red to orange calyx 0.8-1.4 inches (2-3.5 cm) long. Cigar-shaped propagules 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) long hang from the branches before dropping. The red ribbed calyx and knee roots separate it from the stilt-rooted Rhizophora spp. mangroves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height30' - 115'

Width/Spread15' - 30'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

orange

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Summer

Flowers through much of the year in the wet tropics, with peaks varying by region. Each flower is followed by a single elongated propagule that may take several months to mature. Propagules drop and root over an extended season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

red to orange

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 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 Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

clay silt

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

10-20 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in soft, waterlogged estuarine mud within the intertidal zone, where it tolerates daily tidal flooding and full-strength to brackish salinity. It requires warm, frost-free conditions and constant access to tidal water and cannot be grown in ordinary garden soil. Full sun suits it, matching its open coastal habitat. Knee roots remain exposed to air at low tide for gas exchange. Salinity, tidal range, and sediment supply govern where it establishes. It is propagated from mature propagules pushed into tidal mud.

Pruning

Grown as a wild and restoration tree rather than a pruned specimen, so routine pruning is not applied. Dead wood and storm-damaged branches are removed where trees are managed. Cutting the knee roots damages gas exchange and is avoided.