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Meliaceae
Mahogany
Swietenia mahagoni
Strength, craftsmanship, and enduring value.
- Family
- Meliaceae
- Genus
- Swietenia
- Native to
- Caribbean, southern Florida, Central America
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Type
- evergreen to semi-deciduous tree
- Height
- 1500–2500 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, limestone-derived or sandy
- Water
- low to medium
- Hardiness
- 10–12
- Lifespan
- perennial tree; 200–350 years
Did you know
- Mahogany wood is so prized for furniture that centuries of logging have made wild trees extremely rare.
- The tiny greenish flowers are inconspicuous, but the large woody seed capsules are quite dramatic.
- It is the national tree of both the Dominican Republic and Belize.
- A single seed capsule can release up to 70 winged seeds that helicopter down from the canopy.
- CITES international trade restrictions now protect all three species of true mahogany from overexploitation.
Color meanings
Green
lasting strength and natural wealth