# West Indian milkberry (*Chiococca alba*)

The West Indian milkberry is a small shrub with shiny green leaves and sweet, edible berries. It grows in warm places and is 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

![West Indian milkberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chiococca_alba.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Scott Zona, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chiococca_alba.jpg)

## Appearance

The West Indian milkberry is a sprawling or climbing shrub with shiny, dark green leaves. It produces small, bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers that develop into distinctive, spherical, bright white berries, resembling tiny pearls.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Gentianales
- **Family:** Rubiaceae
- **Genus:** Chiococca

## Interesting facts

- Despite being called 'milkberry,' its juicy white fruits taste sweet, not milky, and are enjoyed by wildlife!
- Indigenous cultures have used parts of this plant for traditional remedies for hundreds of years!
- Its scientific name, Chiococca, means 'snow berry' in Greek, describing its striking white fruits!
- This plant is a cousin to coffee! Both belong to the same plant family, Rubiaceae.

## Special abilities

- **Pearl Power Berries:** West Indian milkberry produces bright white berries that stand out against green leaves, helping birds find and spread its seeds far!
- **Sweet Scent Signal:** Its tiny white flowers release a sweet fragrance that helps attract bees and butterflies, ensuring successful pollination.
- **Climbing Champion:** West Indian milkberry can climb using its sturdy stems, allowing it to reach sunlight even in dense forest areas.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-400 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round, peaking in warmer months
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from its flowers
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — visits flowers for sweet nectar
- **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats the white berries, dispersing seeds
- **Eaten by:** Red-legged Thrush (*Mimocichla plumbea*) — feeds on the berries in the Caribbean

## Traits

- [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.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [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 check with an adult before tasting any berries from plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify West Indian milkberry?

Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is West Indian milkberry?

100-400 cm

### How wide does West Indian milkberry spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on West Indian milkberry?

0.5-1 cm

### When does West Indian milkberry bloom?

Year-round, peaking in warmer months

### Is West Indian milkberry edible?

Yes

### Is West Indian milkberry toxic?

None

### What is West Indian milkberry's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Marie Selby Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marie-selby-botanical-gardens) — 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: [West Indian milkberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/west-indian-milkberry)