Sea grapes are grown as both spreading, evergreen shrubs and trees that
reach approximately 30 feet in height. The leaves are round,
alternate, and measure as much as 6 inches in diameter. Leaf texture
is leathery, and color is bright green to reddish nearest the petioles.
Older leaves are often rust colored before they drop. Flowers are
small and white, blooming nearly year round. Fruits are fleshy and hang in
grape-like clusters. Individual fruits typically measure under 1 inch
in diameter. Immature fruit is green in color, while mature fruits are
reddish or purple.
Sea grapes are common in coastal dunes, backdunes, and hammocks. They
are also heavily utilized as landscaping plants.
A related species, the pigeon plum tree (Coccoloba diversifolia) is
similar in appearance to the sea grape. However, its leaves are
smaller and elongated rather than round. It has whitish-green flowers
that bloom in spring, followed by fruits that are much smaller than those of
the sea grape.
The sea grape ranges throughout the American subtropics al and tropics from
approximately 25º North latitude to 10º South
latitude. It is native to Florida, the West Indies and the
Bahamas, but has been naturalized on both coasts of Mexico, as well as much
of coastal Central and South America to northern Peru and Brazil. It
has been introduced as an ornamental into the Indo-Pacific and Hawaii.