Can You Transplant Silver Buttonwood?

Beauty in the Details

• Silver buttonwood offers many ornamental features. Fine hairs cover the tree's foliage to create a silvery look. Small green flowers give way to showy, 1/2-inch fruits that look like leather-covered buttons. The tree's scaly, dark brown bark complements the button-like fruit. When subjected to constant seawinds in coastal areas, silver buttonwood develops an attractive, twisted form. Often nursery grown as a large, multi-stemmed shrub, silver buttonwood trees can grow over 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide. In landscape situations, they commonly reach 15 to 20 feet in height and spread. Tough and resilient, silver buttonwood withstands salt and urban pollution.

Transplant Timing

• Silver buttonwood's native habitat rests in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b and 11. In these USDA zones, average winter extreme temperatures remain above freezing. Though tough, the tree will succumb in colder zones. In its growing range, silver buttonwood can be transplanted any time of year, as long as the tree is in good health. Warm soil temperatures allow roots to actively grow and re-establish the plant year-round. Silver buttonwood does not develop a taproot. Its roots consist mainly of laterals and fine, fibrous roots, which helps the tree transplant readily and quickly become established in its new home.

Making the Move

• To transplant silver buttonwood, chose a well-drained site with full sun. Keep the tree's root ball as large as possible. Prepare the planting hole by measuring the height of the ball from top to bottom and across the width. Dig a hole at least 1.5 times as wide as the root ball and slightly shallower than its depth. The wider the hole, the more easily roots can extend into surrounding soil. Handle the tree gently. Lift it by the fibrous root ball when you place it in the hole. Straighten the tree, backfill with soil and make sure the top of the root ball sits 1 to 2 inches above the surrounding soil. Transplanting large, mature silver buttonwood should be left to professional tree movers.

Transplanting From the Wild

• Wild silver buttonwood grows abundantly in coastal Florida areas. State and federal regulations do not protect these trees. Even so, wild trees should never be taken from public lands without a state or federal permit. Trees on private lands should only be taken with the owner's permission. If transplanting wild silver buttonwood, young seedling trees will transplant best. The larger the plant, the more difficult its adjustment will be. Once a permit or permission is obtained, treat the tree with care. Prepare your planting site in advance. Keep the silver buttonwood hydrated and protected during transport. Once you arrive at your destination, immediately transplant the tree into its new home.