Common Name:

coco plum, cocoplum

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Chrysobalanus icaco

Family:

Chrysobalanaceae

Form:

shrub

Size:

10-30 ft tall by 10-20 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

unripe fruits pink maturing to purple-black

Phenology:

evergreen; blooms and fruits throughout the year

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Hedges, specimen plants, screens.

Considerations:

Availability:

Propagation:

seed or hardwood cuttings

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Tolerant of inundation with brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Clay, Sand

Soil pH:

broadly tolerant

Suitable to Grow In:

10A, 10B, 11

Wildlife:

Wildlife and birds consume the fruits though they areless useful for small birds due to itheir large size.

Provides dense cover.

attracts various pollinators, especially bees

Native Habitats:

Coastal swamps, beaches, cypress dones, Everglades tree islands, edges of ditches and canals.

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

Jelly is sometimes made from the fruits.

General Comments:

At least two cocoplum cultivars are available. 'Red tip' is an inland plant that is not salt tolerant. 'Horizontal' is a spreading form that may be used as a low, woody shrub that requires little or no pruning. Typical cocplum will grow into a tree 20-30 feet tall. (Nelson)

Pasco County occurrence is a 2004 specimen from Anclote Key Preserve and is a potential indicator of northward migration due to global warming.