Sea Grapes (Click for Larger Photo)

Looking at the photo, it’s pretty clear to see how someone came up with the name ‘Sea Grapes’, isn’t it?  Scientific name is Coccoloba Uvifera.  If you’ve never prowled Florida beaches, you might not have encountered this interesting looking plant.  It’s not just found in Florida; it’s in other tropical areas, as well.  But it’s definitely a common plant along Florida beaches and shorelines, especially where development has been gentler and the beaches have been left in a more natural state.  The Sea Grape can be a low, spreading plant or can be allowed to grow into a fairly tall, continuous hedge along sand dunes.  Because of this plant’s extreme salt tolerance, it can also be planted in yards where people use reclaimed water that is too salty for many plant varieties.

Aside from being a really unique and oddly pretty plant, Sea Grapes provide a lot of value in nature.  Although I’ve never eaten the fruit of a Sea Grape and I don’t know of anyone who has, it’s definitely good eating for a number of native birds and mammals.  Sea Grapes also help to stabilize sand dunes — both the plant and the root structure help to prevent erosion.  The lush protective canopy often provides hiding and living space for birds, turtles, lizards, and more.  The plant is deemed important enough to be protected under Florida Statutes.

One final interesting note – many of you are aware of the problem of  ’light pollution’ impacting turtle hatchlings on the beaches.  When the turtle eggs hatch, the babies are supposed to head for the water and swim away.  But the artificial lights of our homes and streets confuse them and lots of baby turtles head toward the light, often dying because of the wrong turn.  Studies have shown that Sea Grapes, if allowed to grow to a good size without severe cutting back, mitigate this problem by blocking the light.  In fact, the State of Florida encourages active planting of Sea Grapes by homeowners and prescribes very controlled trimming to ensure that they provide the greatest benefit in helping to save the baby turtles.  Who knew?  For more about Sea Grapes, go to the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s web page.