Evergreen tree from the Atlantic coast of Central America, South America south to Bolivia. Swietenia macrophylla is majestic, 10-30 m tall, with spectacular dark green glossy foliage, which is produced in bright red flushes. Even potted juveniles are very ornamental when the new leaves are growing. Swietenia macrophylla is known for its wood of supreme quality, but also for its ornamental and medicinal uses.
This Honduran mahogany or large-leaved mahogany grows faster than the Caribbean small-leaved mahogany. The good news is that it is suitable to pot colture and then it becomes slow growing and it is easy to keep for all its life. If it becomes too tall in the greenhouse, then it can be chopped and will sprout back with palm-like shoots with wonderful foliage (And you can save the stick to do something useful out of it !) Its seeds are edible and many of its parts are used as medicines.
Pictures from wikimedia commons:
By jayeshpatil912 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/75380256@N06/6925165314/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25006619
By Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia - Caobo - Cedro caoba (Swietenia macrophylla), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74379668
Cultivation |
Protected |
Plant origin |
America |
Presentation |
Potted Plant |
Max. Size |
300cm & more |
Botanical family |
Meliaceae |
Light |
Sun |
Light |
Medium |
Minimum winter temperature |
0 ºC to 15 ºC |
Plant type |
Woody |
Care |
Pot |
Shape |
Trees |