Green Buttonwood, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Green buttonwood is a Florida native that handles salt, sun, heat and thin sandy soil better than most hedge plants, which makes it a first choice for canal lots, coastal yards and windy exposures. Sheared, it makes a dense green screen; left alone, it grows into a multi-trunk small tree. Plants come from our own nursery, Palm & Plant Co., in 3 and 7 gallon sizes, and our crew plants and waters them in.
- Light:
- Full sun
- Water:
- Low to moderate; regular water to establish, drought tolerant once rooted
- Salt:
- High; handles salt spray and salty soil, but plant it above the tide line, not in standing salt water
Green Buttonwood sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Variety or form | Sizes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Buttonwood Green | 3 Gallon | The 3 gallon size, a good fit for long hedge runs where you are setting many plants close together. |
| Green Buttonwood | 7 Gallon | The 7 gallon size, a bigger plant for faster screening and a fuller look at planting. |
Green Buttonwood in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 15 to 30 ft tall and about as wide if left unclipped; sheared hedges hold 6 to 10 ft
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low to moderate; regular water to establish, drought tolerant once rooted
- Salt tolerance
- High; handles salt spray and salty soil, but plant it above the tide line, not in standing salt water
- Cold tolerance
- Frost can burn the leaves; established plants resprout and the coast rarely sees damage, but cover small plants inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 4 to 6 ft on center for a hedge (about 4 ft for 3 gallon, 5 to 6 ft for 7 gallon)
- Florida native
- Yes, native to Florida's coasts
- Botanical name
- Conocarpus erectus
Where Green Buttonwood works in a SW Florida yard
Use green buttonwood where salt spray, wind and baking sun wear out other hedges: canal lots, seawall yards, and driveway edges facing open sky. Sheared to 4 to 6 ft it forms a tight green wall, and left unclipped it relaxes into a small multi-trunk tree with an irregular, natural look.
Cocoplum and sea grape make good layered neighbors for an all-native screen, with muhly grass in front for texture. The green form grows taller and darker than silver buttonwood, so choose it when you want height.
- Salt-tolerant coastal hedge
- Canal lot screening
- Informal native screen
- Small multi-trunk specimen tree
How our crew plants it
Set the top of the root ball level with the surrounding sand in a hole twice as wide as the pot and no deeper. For a hedge, space 3 gallon plants about 4 ft apart and 7 gallon plants 5 to 6 ft. Backfill with the native soil; no rich amendments are needed.
Water in, shape a shallow basin, and mulch 2 to 3 inches, keeping mulch off the stems. Water every day or two for the first few weeks, which Lee and Collier allow for new plantings, then drop back to your assigned days.
Care after planting
- Shear or tip-prune two or three times from March through October to keep a hedge dense, saving heavy cuts for spring.
- Water deeply but not often once established; it handles dry stretches better than most hedges.
- Go light on fertilizer, since a heavy hand pushes soft growth; a feeding in spring and another in early fall is plenty, and nitrogen and phosphorus products are banned June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- After a cold snap, wait until spring to cut out frost-burned wood, because new growth shows you where to cut.
What to watch for
- Stressed plants can pick up scale, sooty mold or twig dieback, so keep watering steady after planting and prune out dead wood early.
Green Buttonwood questions we hear
Is green buttonwood salt tolerant?+
Yes, it is one of the most salt-tolerant shrubs you can plant in Southwest Florida. It handles salt spray and salty soil, so it suits canal lots and seawall yards. Plant it above the high-tide line, though, because it does not like to stand in salt water.
How far apart should I plant buttonwood for a hedge?+
Space 3 gallon plants about 4 ft apart and 7 gallon plants 5 to 6 ft apart, center to center. Tighter spacing gives a closed hedge sooner, and wider spacing suits an informal screen. Plan on a year or two of growth plus a few shearings before it knits together.
How big does green buttonwood get?+
Unclipped, it grows into a small tree or large shrub, roughly 15 to 30 ft tall and about as wide. Sheared as a hedge, you can hold it at 6 to 10 ft or lower. It grows at a moderate pace, so regular light trimming works better than occasional hard cutting.
What is the difference between green and silver buttonwood?+
They are two forms of the same Florida native, with similar salt and drought toughness. Silver buttonwood has silky silver-gray leaves and stays smaller and shrubbier, while green buttonwood has darker green leaves and grows taller. Choose green for a taller, traditional hedge or small tree, and silver for contrast.
Will green buttonwood survive a freeze in Lehigh Acres or North Fort Myers?+
Usually, with some damage. Buttonwood is rated for zones 9B to 11, so a light frost burns leaves but established plants resprout from the wood. Inland spots like Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers get frost more often than the coast, so cover small plants on frost nights and wait until spring to prune.
How much does a buttonwood hedge cost to plant?+
Price depends on plant size, how many feet of hedge you need and how easy the site is to reach, so we text a planted price instead of posting a number. Send your address and the length of the hedge, and we usually reply within the hour during the day. Half down holds the plants and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Green Buttonwood
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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