Light. Grows best in full sun or light shade.
Water. Hand-water new plants when rain falls short for the first 5 to 7 months. Established plants need little irrigation.
Soil and feeding. Adapts to acidic or alkaline soil, from sand to clay. Established plants need very little fertilizer.
Size. Grows to about 4 ft and spreads wider than tall. This coastal type usually stays under 6 ft.
Pruning. As a groundcover, cut back upright shoots to hold it at 18–24 inches. As a hedge, trim two or three times a year and keep it at 3–6 ft.
Problems to watch. Lobate lac scale with sooty mold, leaf-notching weevils and algal leaf spot appear occasionally. Root-bound plants can decline after planting, worse under heavy mulch and constantly wet soil.
Good to know. A Florida native with high salt and wind tolerance, good near the coast. Leaves are damaged at 32°F. New leaves are light green to yellow, and the fruit is edible.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Cocoplum · UF/IFAS EDIS ENH1289/EP553: Cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco) Identification and Uses
