Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Swietenia mahagoni
West Indian Mahogany
The Swietenia mahagoni, or West Indian Mahogany, is the tree that gave the timber its name, and it is a first-rate street tree quite apart from that history. A straight trunk carries a dense, symmetrical, spreading crown of pinnate leaves, and the brief dry-season leaf drop is followed almost immediately by a coppery-pink flush of new growth.
It takes shallow alkaline soil, salt-laden air and coastal wind, and it holds its structure in storms, which is why it lines streets and civic frontages right across the Caribbean and southern Florida.
Specifications
- Height10 to 20 metres, reaching 25 metres in the wild
- Width8 to 15 metres
- Native toSouthern Florida, the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles
- FoliagePinnate leaves with paired glossy leaflets; briefly deciduous in the dry season with a coppery-pink flush of new growth
- Growth rateModerate
Conditions
- SoilPrefers well-drained soils and tolerates shallow, rocky, alkaline and saline ground
- LightFull sun
- WaterLow to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
- ClimateThrives in tropical, subtropical and coastal regions
Additional Features
- FormStraight trunk carrying a dense, symmetrical, evenly spreading crown
- FlowersSmall fragrant greenish-yellow flowers in loose panicles
- UsesIdeal for street and avenue planting, park shade, and coastal and civic landscapes
- SpacingPlant 8 to 12 metres apart for streets and avenues
- Low MaintenanceNeeds formative pruning for a clear trunk and little else; the crown holds its shape well
- Pest ResistanceGenerally sound, with the mahogany webworm an occasional cosmetic nuisance
- Salt ToleranceTolerates salt-laden air and saline soils in coastal streets and frontages
- Seasonal AppealThe coppery-pink flush that follows the brief leaf drop is a distinct annual display
West Indian Mahogany is one of the most dependable coastal street trees available, combining shade, structure and storm resilience.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026