Coccoloba diversifolia (Pigeonplum)

Coccoloba diversifolia (Pigeonplum) tree showing many oval green leaves on thin woody stems

Botanical name: Coccoloba diversifolia

Common names: Pigeonplum, Doveplum, Pigeon Seagrape, Tietongue

Origin: Caribbean, Central America

USDA Zone: 9-10

Plant form: Small tree

Mature height: 10-20 ft

Sun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor

Cold tolerance: Tolerates light freezing to about 30°F for short periods (mature plants). Young plants must be protected.

Watering: Moderate

Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing

Foliage color: Ornamental foliage

This is curious tree that has leaves on young plants and root sprouts larger than those on mature plants! The flowers numerous inconspicuous appear on spikes 1.5-18 cm long in the spring. The fruit is an achene surrounded by a dark purple edible fleshy perianth, ripening in the fall. Young trees appear pyramidal until the multiple trunks begin spreading. This can form a rounded vase on older specimens. It is a wonderful small to medium-sized tree for subtropical landscapes, typically sporting a multiple trunk. Trunks often grow almost parallel to each other. The tree is unable to survive hard frost, but is resistant to high winds, salt and drought.