# Cocoplum (*Chrysobalanus icaco*)

Cocoplum is a fun, bushy plant that grows in warm places like beaches and coastal areas. It has shiny green leaves and produces small, tasty fruits that are loved by birds and other animals.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas
- **Also known as:** Cocoplums

![Cocoplum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chrysobalanus_icaco_%28inflorescense%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysobalanus_icaco_%28inflorescense%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Cocoplum is an evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, leathery green leaves that sometimes display a reddish tint. Its small, round fruits transition from green to pink, purple, or black when ripe, often hanging in clusters. Young stems can also show a reddish hue.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malpighiales
- **Family:** Chrysobalanaceae
- **Genus:** Chrysobalanus

## Interesting facts

- Cocoplum fruits can float on ocean currents, spreading seeds to new beaches far away!
- Early settlers once brewed the Cocoplum's dried leaves to make a refreshing and healthful tea!
- Some varieties of Cocoplum have new leaves that emerge with a stunning reddish-purple color!
- The hard seeds inside Cocoplum fruits are sometimes polished and used to make decorative beads!

## Special abilities

- **Saltwater Survivor:** Cocoplum can tolerate salty air and soil, which helps it thrive on beaches and coastlines.
- **Erosion Controller:** Cocoplum has a strong root system that holds sandy soil in place, protecting shores from erosion.
- **Thirsty Ground Thriver:** Cocoplum can handle dry, sandy soils for long periods, making it tough in coastal droughts.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-400 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.7 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits small flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Brown Thrasher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-thrasher) (*Toxostoma rufum*) — Enjoys ripe Cocoplum fruits.
- **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Forages for fallen or low-hanging fruits.
- **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Feeds on the small, sweet fruits.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before trying to eat any wild fruit.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cocoplum?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Cocoplum?

100-400 cm

### How wide does Cocoplum spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on Cocoplum?

0.3-0.7 cm

### When does Cocoplum bloom?

Year-round

### Is Cocoplum edible?

Yes

### Is Cocoplum toxic?

None

### What is Cocoplum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Mounts Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mounts-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Cocoplum: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cocoplum)