Patterns of shallow seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) growth and flowering along the Tunisian coast

► Shoot density and temporal patterns in leaf and rhizome production and flowering parameters were assessed using reconstruction technique in Tunisian Posidonia oceanica meadows. ► Shoot density shows significant differences between sites. ► The annual leaf formation rate and the vertical rhizome elongation showed a statistically significant difference between localities and years. ► The correlation analysis between seagrass growth and climate records showed no direct relationship. ► A large spatial-temporal variation in the flowering frequency occurred among populations and between years in P. oceanica meadows.