06/14/2026
Welcome back to ! This week we're highlighting a distinctive plant that shapes much of Florida’s coastal landscape 🍇
The sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) is a hardy, salt-tolerant native shrub or small tree found along beaches and dunes throughout South and Central Florida. With its large, round, leathery leaves and thick branches, sea grape plays a vital role in stabilizing sandy soils and protecting shorelines from erosion. The plant’s dense foliage creates important habitat for coastal species and provides shade and wind protection in beachfront areas.
In late summer and fall, sea grapes produce clusters of green to deep purple fruit that resemble bunches of grapes. These fruits are edible for both wildlife and people, attracting birds, mammals, and pollinators. The taste is oftencompared to muscadine grapes. However, like our mangroves, this plant is heavily protected for its habitat importance and dune retaining abilities! If you would like to enjoy the sea grape, it must be planted in your own lawn. In fact, plant two! Seagrape is dioecious. This means that individual plants are either male or female. So if you'd like to have the historical seagrape wine this summer, you'll need both plants.
Sea grape is valued in coastal landscaping for its resilience, beauty, and ecological benefits. By preserving and planting sea grape along Florida’s beaches, communities help strengthen natural dune systems and support the diverse wildlife that depends on them.
