West Indian Snow Berry, David's rot, Skunk-root, Snowberry.
Chiococca alba

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

Chiococca alba is an evergreen Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 6

Where it is found

Tropical moist forests.

S. America from Bolivia north through Central America to Florida and the West Indies.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, North America, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, South America, Uruguay, USA, West Indies

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

The herb is used in some regions for treating snake bites. The root is a drastic purgative. The roots have several uses in herbal medicine, including as a laxative, diuretic, emetic, and antidiarrhoeal. The plant was sold commercially in Europe and the United States for those purposes at one time.

Other

Rating: 1

C. alba is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental for its dark green, evergreen foliage and white drupes. It is used in espalier and grown on trellises.

Experimental Crop: Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Experimental Crop: Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Espalier: A tree or other plant that is trained to grow flat against a support (such as a trellis or wall).

How it is grown

A plant of the humid tropics.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Acetillo, Arito, Cainana, Cainca, Caninana, David's milkberry, West Indian milkberry, cahinca and West Indian snowberry.

Synonyms

Chiococca anguifuga DC. Chiococca racemosa L.