Sea Grape Bushes

Size and Form

• Evergreen sea grape bushes have a sprawling growth habit. The bush does not have a distinct trunk and its stout branches grow up to 35 feet tall. The tree forms of sea grape can achieve a mature height of up to 50 feet with a vase-like form. The dense texture of the plant makes it well suited as hedges, and larger-sized sea grapes are used as small size shade trees.

Description

• The thin bark of sea grape is light brown and smooth with irregular blotches. The 4- to 8-inch-long evergreen foliage is simple and round shaped. Younger foliage is bronze to red colored, darkening with age with reddish veins evident in certain varieties. The bush blooms with small, white, fragrant flowers in the form of drooping clusters, or racemes, between late spring and early summer.

Fruit

• The flowers of sea grape are followed by grape-like clusters of 3/4-inch, round- to pear-shaped fruit. The color of the velvety fruit ranges from various shades of purple to white. Fruit pulp is acidic to sweet in taste and contains a large, pointed seed. The fruit does not all ripen at the same time. Ripe fruits drop from tree as they ripen during summer or during late fall. Though only female trees produce fruit, the male trees are required for pollination. The fruit is eaten fresh, processed into jellies and jams, or used for making a wine.

Cultural Conditions

• Plant sea grape in areas of full to partial sun. The plant adapts to a range of well-drained soils including sandy. Growth is optimal in fertile soil. Younger plants are not cold-tolerant and are likely to be damaged at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Resistance to cold increases with maturity. Sea grape is well adapted to growing in salty, coastal air. The plant is hardy in USDA Zones 10b to 11. Newly planted trees should be watered regularly until established.