PlantFiles: Variegated Sea Grape
Coccoloba uvifera 'Albo-variegata'

Striking specimen. I grow this in containers, in zone 8a, far from its tropical home. Leaf variegation is not completely stable, and may need some pruning to keep it looking its best. Soil needs to be fast draining, yet hold adequate moisture, and wet soil during cooler winter months(like with many tropicals) can be fatal. Enough negativity! This plant has few rivals for leaf size, shape, texture, coloration and form- (new foliage boasts a nice orange/red tinge,in addition to the beautiful creamy light yellow/almost white variegation)and the structure of the plant itself is quite interesting. Worth the effort for those that can provide some extra TLC when trying to grow it in colder climates. I'd love to see what this beauty could do in its native climate range.

This is a variegated, green-and-white-leaf form of the non-variegated Coccoloba uvifera, which is native to coastal beaches and dunes of central and southern Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and tropical America. Both this and the non-variegated variety have been introduced to Hawaii and other tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.

Like the normal non-variegated variety, this variety of C. uvifera is drought and salt-tolerant but may require slightly more moist soil. It grows well outdoors in zones 9b through 11 (it is slightly less hardy than the common variety).