Chrysobalanus icaco
Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Coco Plum, Cocoplum
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, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
Recommended Uses: | Hedges, specimen plants, screens. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Propagation: | Seed or hardwood cuttings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Availability: | Native nurseries, Quality nurseries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: | 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 |
Ecology
Wildlife: |
Wildlife and birds consume the fruits though they areless useful for small birds due to itheir large size. Provides dense cover. | |
Insects: | Attracts various pollinators, especially bees. | |
Native Habitats: | Coastal swamps, beaches, cypress dones, Everglades tree islands, edges of ditches and canals. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
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. |