Conocarpus erectus is native to coastal regions of Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, and West Africa. It typically grows along shorelines, brackish estuaries, and tidal creeks, forming part of the mangrove ecosystem though it is less salt-tolerant than true mangrove species.
The tree produces dense clusters of inconspicuous greenish to reddish flowers that develop into small, hard, ball-like fruits, giving rise to the name buttonwood. Its wood is dense, strong, and historically valued for firewood and charcoal production, while its bark has been traditionally used in tanning due to its high tannin content. In landscaping, Conocarpus erectus is widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions as a windbreak and for erosion control along coastlines. Photographed in Florida.