Pigeon Plum
Neat, salt-tolerant, and coastal to its core. A well-behaved tree with fruit the birds appreciate.
Coccoloba diversifolia
Seagrape's upright cousin, with beautiful mottled bark and fruit for the birds.
Why it works here
Pigeon plum is a gorgeous, well mannered native and a relative of the seagrape, but it grows more upright into a real small to medium tree. The bark is the showpiece, mottled and flaking to reveal purple underneath. It shrugs off drought and salt, so it works from inland yards right toward the coast, and the female trees carry dark reddish fruit that birds love. It is one of my easy, reliable picks.
Care
Water to get it going, then it is very self sufficient in well drained soil. Prune lightly for shape and to lift the canopy if you want to walk under it, it naturally has a clean form. Mulch and the occasional compost topdress are all it needs. It sometimes grows multi trunked, which is attractive, but if you want a single trunk, select and train one early.
Common problems
Basically trouble free. I will be honest, this is one of those natives without any serious pest or disease to warn you about, which is a big part of why I use it.
Fruit litter on hardscape from female trees. Cultural fix: site over mulch or lawn if the drop bothers you.
No fruit on a lone tree. It is dioecious, so you need a male nearby to get fruit on females, though many people grow it purely for the bark and form.
Common questions
How is it different from seagrape?
Same family and both natives, but pigeon plum stands up taller and narrower into more of a tree, while seagrape sprawls wide with big round leaves. Pigeon plum fits smaller yards better.
Is it a fast grower?
Moderate, not a rocket. You trade a little speed for a tough, clean, good looking tree that asks nothing of you.
Will it survive close to the coast?
Yes, it is genuinely salt tough and wind sturdy, so it is a good choice for coastal and near coastal yards.
Interested in a pigeon plum in your landscape?
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