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Coccoloba uvifera, Sea Grape

Commonly used as a shrub and seaside planting, this plant can be trained with regular pruning to make a nice medium sized shade tree. Requiring full sun and sandy, well-drained soils, Sea Grape is made for seaside landscape. Plants should be well-watered until established and located in a spot where the falling foliage, twigs, bark and fruit will not be a problem. Regular pruning keeps the canopy neat and free of dead branches. The twisting trunk can grow to 2 feet in diameter. This habit makes Sea Grape a picturesque shade tree or specimen planting, but it is often used as a hedge. It can be pruned into a loose hedge, screen, or windbreak with several prunings each year.

Trunks with included bark between them can split apart. Encourage development of a single trunk with regular pruning. Trees are tolerant of urban conditions and have performed well as street trees. Pollen can cause significant allergy symptoms.

Trees in their native forest habitat typically have one leader or trunk for a couple dozen feet, then trunks divide into several codominant stems toward the top of the tree. Unless properly pruned, trees in more open landscapes develop several codominant stems fairly close to the ground.

Cape Canaveral along the coast south to Key West and Bradenton.

National champion is 62 x 66 feet in Florida.