Cocoplum

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; growth is denser and fruiting generally better in full sun.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established plants tolerate short dry periods, but appreciate watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Sand, loam or clay, including alkaline soils; tolerates periodically wet ground but performs well in moist, well-drained soil.

Height

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m), occasionally reaching 25-30 ft (7.6-9.1 m) as a small tree

Spread

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m), depending on form and pruning

Flowers

Small, inconspicuous white flowers, mainly in spring and summer; flowering can occur intermittently throughout the year in tropical climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Thick, glossy, rounded to oval green leaves; new growth can be bronze or reddish.

Growth

Moderate, becoming faster in warm weather with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.3 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2.2 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (3 m)

5. After 5 years

   12 ft (3.8 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply through the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to begin drying between waterings.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid repeated heavy feeding.
• For exposed seaside planting, choose a locally proven coastal form rather than assuming all cocoplums tolerate salt spray equally.
• Protect container plants from frost in a bright conservatory or greenhouse, and water less during cool weather.

Pruning. Prune in late spring after the risk of cold damage has passed, shortening long shoots and removing dead or crossing branches. Lightly trim hedges during warm growth, but expect frequent clipping to reduce flowers and fruit.

Spring

Plant once the soil is warm and frost risk has passed; water thoroughly and mulch.

Late spring

Remove winter-damaged shoots and shape hedges after new growth begins.

Summer

Water young plants during dry spells and inspect new growth for scale insects.

Summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, nonflowering shoots.

Autumn

Collect ripe fruit when it softens; remove fallen fruit where seedlings are unwanted.

Winter

Keep container plants frost-free in bright light and reduce watering without letting the root ball dry completely.

• Plant as a dense evergreen boundary hedge or informal privacy screen in frost-free gardens.
• Use a locally suitable coastal form behind dunes or beside seaside patios for wind filtering and year-round foliage.
• Combine with sea grape, saw palmetto and muhly grass for a layered subtropical planting.
• Train a single specimen into a small, rounded tree where its fruit and branching can be appreciated.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Tropical, Florida subtropical, Caribbean, Wildlife garden and Edible landscape.

Plant it with: Sea grape, Green buttonwood, Saw palmetto, Coontie, Pink muhly grass and Dune sunflower.

Wildlife: Flowers attract small insect visitors, and birds and other wildlife eat the fruit. Dense branching provides shelter and nesting cover.

• Scale insects can cause sticky honeydew and black sooty mould; prune heavily infested shoots, manage ants and apply horticultural oil according to the label.
• Leaf spots sometimes develop in humid conditions; remove badly affected fallen leaves, improve airflow and avoid repeatedly wetting the foliage.
• Frost can scorch leaves and kill shoots; protect young plants and wait until spring growth begins before cutting back damaged wood.
• Sparse growth often results from deep shade; move young plants to a brighter position or allow more light through surrounding vegetation.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although animal-specific safety information is limited. The ripe fruit flesh is edible; remove the large, hard stone before eating or offering fruit to children because it presents a choking hazard.

Where it spreads. Introduced cocoplum forms invasive thickets in the Seychelles and parts of French Polynesia, including Tahiti and Moorea. Avoid planting where it is locally listed as invasive, and prevent fruit and garden waste from reaching natural areas.

• Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa)

  Natal plum has paired, forked thorns, opposite leaves and conspicuous star-shaped white flowers; cocoplum is thornless with alternate leaves and much smaller flowers.

• Clusia (Clusia rosea)

  Clusia has larger, opposite, paddle-shaped leaves and capsules that split open to expose red-coated seeds; cocoplum has alternate leaves and fleshy fruit containing a single stone.

• Sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera)

  Sea grape has much larger, nearly circular leaves with prominent veins and fruit in hanging grape-like clusters; cocoplum has smaller leaves and fruit in small groups.

Chrysobalanus comes from Greek words meaning 'golden acorn', while icaco is derived from an Indigenous Caribbean name for the plant.

Propagation. Sow cleaned, fresh seed in a warm place; germination can be slow and uneven. Root semi-ripe cuttings in a humid propagator during warm weather to preserve the characteristics of a particular plant.

Accepted botanical name

Chrysobalanus icaco

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

Angola, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast, Cameroon, Cayman Is., Central African Repu and Central American Pac.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.