Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

coco plum, cocoplum

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Chrysobalanus icaco

Family:

Chrysobalanaceae

Plant Specifics

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:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Hedges, specimen plants, screens.

Considerations:

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed or hardwood cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

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

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay

Soil pH:

Broadly tolerant

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Attracts various pollinators, especially bees.

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





Provides dense cover.

Native Habitats:

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

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Jelly is sometimes made from the fruits.

General Comments:

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