Coco - Plum

Chrysobalanus icaco

Landscape Index Page Native landscape trees Native landscape shrubs

Click pictures for full sized images

Pictures - Coco plum plant, Close-up of fruit and leaf

Family - Chrysobalanaceae

Natural Habitat - Coastal swamps, coastal scrub, swamps & cypress domes, moist to wet woodlands.

Planting Zones - 10, 11

Description - Coco-plum is a native Florida shrub or small tree to about 16 feet in height. Leaves are dark green & shiny above , lighter green on lower surface, oval to round, alternately arranged in paired ranks with entire margins. New leaves are reddish in color.

Two variations are of Coco-plum are found in the wild, one is more horizontal in form to about 3 feet tall & more often found growing close to the coast. The other has a more upright form of a small rounded canopy tree or tall shrub.

Flowers are white, produced in clusters & have a delicate fragrance. Fruit is fleshy drupe that ranges in color from white to pinkish or purple, containing a single seed or pit.

Landscape Use - Coco-plum is widely used as a hedge plant, either clipped or informal, accent or specimen tree.

Culture - Propagation is by seed or hardwood cuttings grown under mist. Full sun, moist acidic to slightly alkaline soils. Coco-plum has moderate salt spray & drought tolerance.