Silver Buttonwood, the Salt-Spray Hedge, Delivered and Planted
Few plants shrug off salt spray like silver buttonwood. It is a native, silver-leaved shrub or small tree that handles seawall lots, wind, drought and alkaline soil, and it clips into a tough hedge or screen. The silky silver foliage stands out against green plants. We deliver it in 3 gallon pots and plant it in full sun so it settles in and starts filling the row.
- Light:
- Full sun for the best silver color; tolerates part shade
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established and tolerates wet soil
- Salt:
- Very high; handles salt spray and brackish soil
Silver 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.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Silver Buttonwood | 3 Gallon |
Silver Buttonwood in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 8 to 15 ft tall and 6 to 10 ft wide as a shrub; 15 to 20 ft as a tree
- Light
- Full sun for the best silver color; tolerates part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established and tolerates wet soil
- Salt tolerance
- Very high; handles salt spray and brackish soil
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves burn in a hard freeze; coastal yards are usually fine, cover young plants inland
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 3 to 5 ft apart for a hedge
- Florida native
- Yes, South Florida native (silver form of buttonwood)
- Botanical name
- Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus
Where Silver Buttonwood works in a SW Florida yard
Silver buttonwood works where other plants quit: along a seawall, a gulf-side fence or a windy corner. Plant a row 3 to 5 ft apart and clip it into a hedge, let it grow into a loose screen, or prune to one trunk for a small tree.
The silvery leaves stand out against green foliage, so pair it with green buttonwood, cocoplum or bougainvillea. It copes with wet roots in rainy season and with dry spells after that. Give it full sun and room to breathe.
- Salt-spray hedges
- Seawall and canal lots
- Privacy screens
- Silver accent trees
- Windbreak plantings
How our crew plants it
Make the hole twice as wide as the pot and just as deep, and set the root ball a half inch above the soil line. Backfill with native soil, firm it lightly and water in well. Leave 3 to 5 ft between plants for a hedge, and 3 ft from walls and seawall caps so you can trim both sides.
Lee and Collier allow extra watering on a new planting during establishment, so soak it every few days for the first two months; after that it needs little.
Care after planting
- Clip two or three times a year to keep a hedge dense, since regular trimming keeps the silver tips coming.
- New plants need regular watering until the first rainy season; after that, rain and your normal schedule carry them.
- Skip heavy feeding. One light spring dose of slow-release fertilizer is plenty, and the summer ban keeps nitrogen and phosphorus off it June 1 to September 30.
- Inland, protect young plants with a frost cloth on freeze nights; on the coast you will seldom need to.
- Prune out dead tips and open the center slightly so air moves through in rainy season.
What to watch for
- A fungal blight (Cylindrocladium) can occasionally drop leaves and kill stem tips, so cut out dieback and keep plants spaced for airflow.
- Sucking insects can leave sooty mold on plants inland, which usually clears once the insects are controlled.
Silver Buttonwood questions we hear
Is silver buttonwood salt tolerant?+
Yes, it is one of the most salt tolerant plants you can use in Southwest Florida. It handles salt spray, wind and brackish soil, which is why it shows up on seawall and canal lots from Cape Coral to Marco Island. It still wants well-drained soil and full sun.
How far apart should I plant silver buttonwood for a hedge?+
Plant 3 to 5 ft apart. Closer spacing makes a solid hedge sooner, and wider spacing gives a looser screen. Keep the row about 3 ft off walls and paving so you can reach both sides, and plan to clip two or three times a year to hold the height you want.
How big does silver buttonwood get?+
Left alone, most reach 8 to 15 ft tall and 6 to 10 ft wide, and some grow into 15 to 20 ft trees. Clipped hedges are usually held at 4 to 8 ft. Growth is moderate, not rampant, so a row fills in over a few seasons.
Will silver buttonwood survive a freeze in Southwest Florida?+
A light frost usually just burns some leaves. A hard freeze can brown or kill stems on young plants, mostly on inland lots, and coastal yards rarely see that. Wait until growth resumes in spring before you cut out damaged wood.
How much sun does silver buttonwood need?+
Full sun gives the best silver color and the densest growth. It tolerates part shade, though the leaves turn greener and the plant gets looser. Aim for at least six hours of direct sun, and avoid spots that stay shady and soggy.
What is the difference between silver and green buttonwood?+
They are forms of the same native species. Silver buttonwood has silky silver-gray leaves, while green buttonwood has plain green ones. Both handle salt, drought and heat, so choose silver for contrast and green for a quieter look.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Silver 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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