Native to the silt shores of coasts and islands of Florida, including the Florida Keys. Also widely distributed on coasts of tropical America from Bermuda and Bahamas through West Indies, including Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. From Mexico south on the Atlantic coast to Brazil and on the Pacific coast to Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands and Peru. On coasts of west Africa and in Melanesia and Polynesia.
Buttonwood occurs in tidal lagoons and bays of brackish water.
It forms dense thickets of shrubby growth, but becomes tree-like when growing alone. Flowers and fruits are produced year round. The bark is thick and has broad plates of thin scales which are gray to brown. The bark is rich in tannins. The heartwood of buttonwood is olive brown, with a reddish tinge, while the sapwood is lighter.