PlantFiles: Coco plum
Chrysobalanus icaco

I have this plant as hedging material around my garden. I also have seen it nearly wild in the Los Angeles area, which is much drier than here of course. The plants in California were alive with birds. Here, not so much. (10b) It makes a wonderful hedge with a bronzy glow in the silky feeling leaves of new growth that is very attractive in the landscape. 4 stars for this one.

can anyone tell me if this plant coco plum is poisionous to horses ? I want to use it for a privacy hedge between my property and the neighbors but I have horses and wanted to know before I plant it if is toxic to equines

I think this plant has some potential to become a minor subtropical fruit, but obviously needs a breeding/hybridizing effort to improve the pulp-to-pit ratio and increase the overall size of the fruit. As it is, the fruit is sweet with a delicate plum-like flavor. Seed kernels are also edible when roasted.

Cocoplum is one of the best native shrubs in Florida. It is native to the cypress swamps, hammocks, wet areas, tree islands and coastal natural habitats such as hammocks and also is abundant in swamps, including hardwood swamps, from central Florida southward throughout the state, including the Keys. It is also found in coastal habitats. It is an excellent subtropical shrub that produces edible, black to purplish berries that are very useful and superb for wildlife and birds. Also, in it's natural habitats the foilage may provide some shelter for wildlife as well. People may also eat them as well when ripe. It is very common and very popular in the landscape in its entire range in central and southern Florida as a maintained shrub. It is superb for a maintained shrub - a superb characteristic for a native plant - and can be maintained as low as 3 to 4 feet tall! It is hardy from zone 9a southward, it's northernmost range limit. It is abundant in swamps, hammocks, and wet areas and tree islands in the Everglades, one of it's preferred natural habitats, where it is found as a tall shrub. It has small, white flowers that bloom often but are somewhat inconspicuous.

MORE FACTS - Grows naturally up to 14 or 15 feet tall and sometimes up to 20 feet as a tall shrub. Useful as a hedge. The blackish to purplish berries (cocoa-plums or icacoa-plums) are great for wildlife and are edible for people to taste. Somewhat drought-tolerant as well, but must be watered moderately to frequently - soil usually must be slightly moist. Great for coastal situations as well as the rest of the way inland. This plant is very useful as a hedge and is being widely used in both commercial landscaping projects and housing developments in south Florida, as well as a border for homes.