# Pigeon Plum (*Coccoloba diversifolia*) Pigeon Plum is a lovely tree that grows in warm places. It has shiny green leaves and produces small fruits that birds love to eat. This tree helps make the air fresh and cool! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Pigeon Plum](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/38870754/medium.jpeg) Photo: Siddarth Machado, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/38870754) ## Appearance The Pigeon Plum is an evergreen tree with smooth, light grey bark and distinctive leathery, dark green oval leaves, often featuring reddish veins. Its small, inconspicuous white flowers develop into clusters of round fruits that ripen from green to a vibrant red-purple. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Polygonaceae - **Genus:** Coccoloba ## Interesting facts - It's a 'pioneer species,' often one of the first trees to grow in new areas! - Its strong wood was once used to build boats and beautiful furniture! - People often use its beautiful wood to create musical instruments, too! - The tasty fruits change from green to a deep purple-red when ripe! ## Special abilities - **Salt-Proof Shields:** Pigeon Plum has tough, leathery leaves that help it survive strong ocean winds and salty sea spray, preventing water loss. - **Wildlife Buffet:** Pigeon Plum produces abundant, juicy fruits that help many birds and other animals find food, especially in coastal areas. - **Storm Anchor:** Pigeon Plum can grow strong, deep roots that help it anchor firmly in sandy soils, protecting it from erosion and storms. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-1500 cm - **Spread:** 300-900 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring_summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mourning Dove](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mourning-dove) (*Zenaida macroura*) — eats ripe fruit - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — forages for fallen fruit - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits small flowers - **Shelter:** Green Anole (*Anolis carolinensis*) — lives in dense canopy ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring around trees and watch for falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pigeon Plum? 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 Pigeon Plum? 500-1500 cm ### How wide does Pigeon Plum spread? 300-900 cm ### How big are the flowers on Pigeon Plum? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does Pigeon Plum bloom? Spring_summer ### Is Pigeon Plum edible? Yes ### Is Pigeon Plum toxic? None ### What is Pigeon Plum's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Gasparilla Inn Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gasparilla-inn-historic-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Offshore Reefs Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/offshore-reefs-archeological-district) — US · Historic District - [Curry Hammock State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/curry-hammock-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see Pigeon Plum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pigeon-plum) ## 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*) --- Source: [Pigeon Plum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pigeon-plum)