The Sea Grape thrives in Florida’s sandy soils. This plant tolerates windy conditions and can act as a windbreak. As well as being salt and drought tolerant, it will stabilize sand dunes while providing habitat for wildlife. This includes protection for nesting sea turtles from artificial light.

A sea grape can make a striking shade tree, with its round, wide, evergreen leaves. On the east coast of Florida at the Blowing Rocks Preserve, sea grapes run along the beach arching overhead to form a tunnel tall enough to walk through. If pruned to a purpose, sea grapes can make a dense hedge, an effective noise barrier, or a coastal windbreak.

Coccoloba uvifera is a popular ornamental plant in south Florida yards. It serves as a dune stabilizer and protective habitat for small animals. Tall sea grape plants behind beaches help prevent sea turtles from being distracted by lights from nearby buildings. The sap has been used for dyeing and tanning leather.

The versatile sea grape is known as Coccoloba uvifera to horticulturists is a common, native plant in Florida, the Caribbean, and South America. It is found in coastal hammocks and landscapes from central Florida southward. It is a variable plant and can be evergreen, semi-deciduous, or deciduous.

Sea Grape, Coccoloba uvifera is a remarkable native, salt-tolerant species of plant found along many of Florida’s beaches. Plants may appear as low spreading bushes or tall continuous hedges along the sand dunes. This plant can be identified by its thick circular leaves 8” to 10” in diameter and its grape-like clusters of fruit.