Flower profile
Black mangrove
Avicennia germinans
Black mangrove is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in April–August.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Florida
Quick look
Avicennia germinans, the black mangrove, is a shrub or small tree growing up to 12 meters in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. Fossils of the species are known from the Bermont Formation of the Everglades.
- It belongs to the Acanthaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
- In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–August. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as indeterminate. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 30 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 4,460 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #50 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
Black mangrove gift ideas
Handmade black mangrove gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Black mangrove art print
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Black mangrove greeting card
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Black mangrove mug
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Black mangrove earrings
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Black mangrove embroidery pattern
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Black mangrove sticker
When does it bloom?
In Florida, most flowering sightings come in April–August.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Florida
- Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MS (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “slight.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) NC State Extension has no page for it. USDA PLANTS
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records black mangrove in 4 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas.
Florida counties with USDA records: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Flagler, Franklin, Hernando, Indian River, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Taylor, Volusia.
More Florida flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile AVGE.
- iNaturalist, Avicennia germinans: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Avicennia germinans (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
- Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Avicennia germinans (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: USDA PLANTS.
- Photo: er-birds via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.