Ways to Make Cocoplum Bushes Grow

The Best Site

• The cocoplum bush is a native plant in Florida and other parts of the Southeastern U.S., where it grows near beaches or swamps, or inland in woodlands. It grows well under most light conditions, but thrives in a site that receives full sun for most or all of the day. When give full sun, the cocoplum becomes a fuller, more densely branched plant that has masses of tiny white, highly fragrant flowers in spring and summer. It tolerates any type of garden soil, but grows best in well-drained, sandy soil similar to the soil in its native habitat. You can increase your soil's drainage if it contains clay by adding coarse sand at planting.

Some Special Care

• The cocoplum bush is a tough, sturdy plant that survives even under constantly dry conditions. As a cultivated specimen, you can maximize its growth and help the plant get well established by providing extra water for its first few seasons. The amount of water to give the plant depends on weather conditions, but you can test the top inch or two of soil with your finger and, when it feels dry to the touch, water the plant deeply. The plant doesn't need regular fertilizing, but you might feed it once or twice during its first year, using a balanced, 10-10-10 formula diluted at a rate of 1/4 teaspoon per gallon.

Mulch and Trimming

• Mulching a cocoplum bush during the growing season can help boost growth by conserving soil moisture, while keeping down weeds that can compete for soil nutrients. Apply a 2-to-3-inch thick layer of organic mulch in spring, renewing it during the season as it breaks down. If you live in an area prone to high humidity, use a non-organic mulch such as gravel or pea-stone to discourage development of fungal problems. Pruning the bush every year or two can also help spur healthy new growth each season. Cut back some branches at the edge of the plant's canopy by one-third in spring, rotating between different branches each pruning session. Avoid clipping the plant over its entire surface, because this can produce a sheared appearance with unattractive, damaged foliage.

Tall and Short Variations

• Two types of cocoplum bushes are exist, one somewhat taller than the other. The smaller type, which mostly grows in coastal areas (Chrysobalanus icaco var. icaco), is about 3 feet tall, with a cultivar called "Horizontal" that has a low, creeping growth habit. The other type (Chrysobalanus icaco var. pellocarpus) is usually found in forested areas and is taller and more upright. A cultivar of this plant, called "Redtip," has leaves with reddish edges. All variations produce small fruits that start out cream-colored, mature to pinkish or dark purple, and have flesh that's sweet and surrounds a single seed or pit. Cocoplum grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12.