Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera)

If you live along the coast and are looking for a wind-tolerant and salt-tolerant plant, look no further than the sea grape. The sea grape plant is an attractive specimen plant and shade tree, perfect for sandy soil and salty air. Given the right growing conditions, it thrives with minimal care. Read on to get some additional seaside grape information that can be useful when deciding if this plant suits your landscape.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Coccoloba uvifera is a species of tree and flowering plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, that is native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean, including central & southern Florida, the Bahamas, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and Bermuda. Common names include seagrape and baygrape.

The first botanical names of the plant were assigned in 1696 by Hans Sloane, who called it Prunus maritima racemosa, “maritime grape-cluster Prunus”, and Leonard Plukenet, who named it Uvifera littorea, “grape-bearer of the shore”, both of which names reflect the European concept of “sea-grape”, expressed in a number of languages by the explorers of the times. The natives viewed it as a large mulberry.

The first edition of Linnaeus’s Species Plantarum (1753), based on Plukenet, assigned the plant to Polygonum uvifera and noted flores non vidi, “I have not seen the flowers.” Subsequently, Patrick Browne, The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica (1756) devised Coccoloba for it. Relying on Browne, Linnaeus’ second edition (1762), changed the classification to Coccolobus uvifera, citing all the other names. Coccoloba comes from the Greek kokkolobis, a kind of grape, literally, “berry pod”.

Fast-growing, Coccoloba uvifera (Seagrape) is an evergreen, multi-stemmed, vase-shaped shrub or small tree grown for its attractive foliage and showy fruits. The leathery leaves are huge, 8-12 in. long (20-30 cm), round, shiny green with red midveins. They often turn bright crimson-red in the fall before falling. The new foliage emerges a lovely bronze color and contrasts nicely against the glossy dark green leaves.

Blooming all year-round, with a peak in spring to early summer, inconspicuous creamy-white flowers emerge in clusters on foot-long racemes. They are followed by large, green to reddish-purple, edible grapes (on female trees) in early summer which ripen by early fall. The fruits have a sweet-sour flavor and are sometimes used to make jams and jellies. The bark is smooth, mottled with silver-gray, and brown. Seagrape provides food and cover for wildlife. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The grapes are devoured by birds and many species of wildlife.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

Seagrape thrives best in full sun conditions, which bolster its vigorous growth and enhance its capability to produce robust, lush foliage and fruit. However, the plant exhibits resilience, tolerating partial sun, albeit with a slight compromise in growth vigor and potential fruit yield. Particularly adaptive, seagrape can modulate its leaf orientation to capture optimal light, and may exhibit leaf color deepening as a response to intense light exposure. Ideal for coastal outdoor landscapes, seagrape should be placed in areas with direct sunlight exposure to truly flourish, aligning with its natural seaside habitat.

Temperature and Humidity

Seagrape needs warm temperatures; it is not frost-tolerant, and temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit will injure, if not kill them.

Watering

Originating from coastal regions, seagrape is well-adapted to sandy soils and can tolerate salt spray, reflecting its resilience in seaside environments. It has a moderate drought tolerance but thrives with consistent moisture, preferring watering once every 1-2 weeks. Given its native habitat’s high humidity, seagrape benefits from a similar ambient moisture level when grown elsewhere. Typically found outdoors due to its size and growth habit, seagrape flourishes in full sun and well-draining soil, making it an excellent candidate for xeriscaping in coastal climates.

Soil

Sandy soil is best, but it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.

Fertilizing

Seagrape can be fertilized with a complete fertilizer like 8-8-8 if planted in soil with low nutrient levels, but will otherwise thrive without regular fertilization.

Pruning

Seagrape responds well to pruning and should be pared back in late summer to maintain the ideal shape; when left unchecked, it tends to sprawl. Watering it regularly ensures that it reaches its full potential. Seagrape should be kept in warm, tropical conditions that mirror its natural habitat. This tough and tolerant shrub can be a great ornamental plant for those along the tropical coastline.

Propagation

The sea grape propagates easily by seeds or cuttings. To propagate by cuttings, sever a branch at the beginning of spring and replant as soon as possible in a combination of peat moss, potting mix, and sand. Make sure to keep the cutting moist and in a sunny area, with good drainage. The seedlings can grow in a container until they become large enough to transfer into the ground.

How to Grow From Seed

Seagrapes grow quickly from seeds, wh

ich come from their ripe purplish-black fruit. Seeds must be fully cleaned of any fruit residue, which can cause them to mildew and rot. Once seeds are dry, sow in individual pots in a 50/50 mixture of sand and compost. Water lightly, and cover with plastic wrap. Keep in a warm place, with southern exposure. Seeds should germinate in about three weeks, maybe longer. Once seedlings are 6 inches tall, they can be planted outdoors.

Potting and Repotting

Repot seagrape every 2-3 years in spring to accommodate growth, as it develops into a large, robust bush. Choose a sizeable pot for its extensive root system, ensuring well-draining soil. Post-repotting, provide seagrape with bright indirect light and consistent moisture to recover. Leverage its coastal resilience but avoid overwatering; seagrape prefers a drier climate for thriving.

Overwintering

Keep seagrapes in full sun in the winter; they may not grow as fast, and may drop leaves, but will recover when the temperature increases.

III. Uses and Benefits

• Ornamental uses

Seagrape is an excellent accent plant with its picturesque twisting trunk. It can be pruned into a dense hedge, screen, or windbreak. Seagrape is excellent for seaside landscapes since it is highly tolerant of salt and drought. It is often planted to stabilize beach edges.

• Medicinal uses

In other places native to sea grapes, various parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. For example, in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean the roots and bark of the plants are used in traditional medicine, while in the Yucatán peninsula tea made from the bark of sea grape mixed with alcohol is used for ulcers. In French Guiana, a juice made from the whole plant called Jamaica kino, is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.

• Culinary uses

The fruits of the sea grape may be eaten raw, cooked into jellies and jams, or fermented into sea grape wine. The leaves of the sea grape can be made into a tea and honey bees can make a certain type of honey with the nectar of the sea grape flowers.

• Other uses

The sap has been used for dyeing and tanning leather.

The wood has occasionally been used in furniture, as firewood, or for making charcoal.