• 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

Chrysobalanus icaco

coco plum, cocoplum

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:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

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

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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.

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.