Sea grape
Coccoloba uvifera

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A medium to large evergreen tree. It grows 6-15 m high and spreads to 3 m across. The stem is erect and woody and branching. The bark is pale and blotchy. The leaves are glossy green and almost round, but heart shaped at the base. They are rounded at the tip, and leathery. The leaves can be 10-27 cm long by 12-25 cm wide. Often male and female flowers are on separate trees. The flowers are white and have a scent. Flowers occur in clusters, with flowers on equal length flower stalks along a central stem. These are 15-30 cm long. The fruit hang in clusters. They are small and round and white or purple. They are grape like and edible. The flesh is juicy and thin. The seed is hard and nut-like.

There are 120 Coccoloba species. In Botanical Gardens in Slovenia presumably in a hot house.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical America. It can tolerate wind and salt. It has reasonable drought tolerance and can grow in damp soils. It prefers light, well-drained soils in an open sunny position. It is frost tender. Plants normally grow near beaches along sea shores. It adapts well to sandy soils. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Anguilla, Asia, Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica (country/location of origin), Kiribati, Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Maldives, Marquesas, Martinique, Mexico (country/location of origin), Montserrat, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos, Tuvalu, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are used for jam, jelly or wine. They are also used in drinks, soups and syrups. Fruit can be eaten fresh.

The fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed. They can also be grown by cuttings or layering.

It is a moderately fast growing tree. Fruit are produced in 3-4 years. The fruit do not ripen at the same time, so often a cloth is spread under the tree and ripe fruit collected as they fall when the branches are shaken.

Its other names

Local names

Carnero, Jamaican kino, Khrut thale, Kino, Matora, Meybiskadhuru gas, Nho bien, Papaturro, Platter leaf, Pohon anggur laut, Schusterdruif, Shore grape, Sistri-droifi, Uva caleta, Uva de playa, Uva de praia, Uvero

Synonyms

Polygonum uvifera L.;