Swamp Mahogany is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Its late winter flowers are a real draw for honeybees and native bees. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Swamp Mahogany on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether swamp mahogany actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score swamp mahogany against your land's real conditions.
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What Swamp Mahogany is
Swamp Mahogany grows as a perennial and reaches around 160 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in late winter.
How to grow Swamp Mahogany
Swamp Mahogany grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Swamp Mahogany does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on evenly moist to well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 240 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
poorly (saturated >50% of year), well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
41°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
160 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
240+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set swamp mahogany in full sun with evenly moist to well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Swamp Mahogany prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — swamp mahogany is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Swamp Mahogany is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Swamp Mahogany thrives
Swamp Mahogany is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–11·Where Swamp Mahogany growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Swamp Mahogany can grow in these states:
See if Swamp Mahogany will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether swamp mahogany actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Swamp Mahogany in my zone?
Swamp Mahogany grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Swamp Mahogany?
Set swamp mahogany out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Swamp Mahogany need?
Swamp Mahogany needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Swamp Mahogany need?
Swamp Mahogany prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on evenly moist to well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Swamp Mahogany attract pollinators?
Yes — swamp mahogany's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees and native bees.
Is Swamp Mahogany safe for pets?
Swamp Mahogany is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)