SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 9921.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "9921" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

icaco coco plum

Scientific Name: Chrysobalanus icaco

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Tree, Subshrub, Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco)

The Cocoplum, scientifically known as Chrysobalanus icaco, is an evergreen shrub or small tree found in tropical regions.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is sometimes trained into hedges, potentially making it accessible.
  • The text mentions the plant is often found near beaches.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant produces a fruit that is edible, juicy, and sweet, and the seed can also be eaten.
  • The plant is sometimes trained into hedges, potentially making it accessible.
  • The plant is often found near beaches.

Common Names

  • Cocoplum
  • Paradise Plum
  • Icaco
  • Coco Plum
  • Pork-Fat Apple
  • Zicate

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Chrysobalanus icaco
  • Family: Chrysobalanaceae
  • Rank: Species
  • Synonyms: Chrysobalanus pellocarpus
  • Variety: Chrysobaloanus icaco var. (note spelling variation in original text)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to South Florida, the Caribbean, tropical Africa, and tropical Americas.
  • Found near sea beaches and inland.
  • Specific habitats include cypress swamps, low areas, tree islands, and sandy areas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching heights of up to 20 feet (approximately 6 meters), but more commonly reaching 15 feet.
  • Has a bushy, spreading growth habit.
  • Leaves are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and lighter green on the lower surface.
  • Flowers are about 1/3 inch, bell-shaped, whitish, and hairy, growing in short clusters and bloom year round.
  • The fruit is a purple, pink, or white drupe (berry-like), egg-shaped, about 1 1/2 inches long.

Ecological Role

  • Tolerant of salt, making it well-suited to coastal environments.
  • Considered one of the best native shrubs in Florida.
  • Can be fast-growing.

Quirky Facts

  • One common name is "Pork-Fat Apple".
  • The cocoplum is generally stewed with sugar after the skins have been removed.

Uses

  • The fruit is edible, juicy, and sweet, and both the fruit and seed can be eaten.
  • The fruit is used to make jam.
  • It is frequently used in coastal and warm-winter landscapes.
  • Often trained into hedges.

Further Information

  • Dave's Garden is mentioned as a resource for gardening tips.
  • Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
  • uBio
  • Wikimedia Commons