Coccoloba diversifolia

Common Names

Pigeon Plum, Tie-Tongue, Dove Plum, Uvilla, Pigeon Seagrape

Summary

Pigeon Plum is an evergreen tree native to Florida, the West Indies, southern Mexico, and Central America. It is typically 10–18 m tall with multiple trunks and a vase-like habit when young, maturing to a rounded form; the bark is light gray and peels to reveal a dark purple inner layer. Leaves are leathery, alternate, 3–13 cm long and 1–7 cm wide, with new growth often bright red; flowers are year-round on racemes, and small purple edible fruit forms that attract birds and ripen in late fall to winter.

It tolerates full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils ranging from sandy to clay; it is drought- and salt-tolerant and frost-intolerant, hardy in USDA zones 10B–11. In landscapes it serves as hedge or specimen, suitable for street plantings, parking-lot islands, reclamation, and shade; pruning helps structure and vehicle clearance, and fallen fruit can create litter; it propagates by seed and generally has few serious pests or diseases.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

20-40 feet

Spread

20-35 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 10B-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soils, preferably sandy or limestone-based substrates with a humus-rich top layer; pH 6.0–8.0.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

No specific ideal pH; tolerates acidic to alkaline soils.

Bloom Color

Whitish green

Bloom Time

Year-round; peak in Spring and Summer.

Foliage Color

Bright to dark green with paler undersides

Fall Foliage Color

Green, No color change

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate growth.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Greenwood cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds