Translate this page:
Summary
Coco Plum or Chysobalanus icaco is a widely cultivated food plant commonly found near sea beaches and inland. It is a small evergreen tree or a shrub that grows up to 6 m tall. It has long, flexible branches, green, leathery leaves, and small greenish white flowers that form into erect clusters in the leave axils. It can also be grown as a hedge and it is propagated by seeds or woody stem cuttings. Medicinally, it is used internally against dysentery, dyspepsia, and diarrhoea and externally against various skin conditions. The purple or red, sweet fruit is consumed raw or cooked into jams and jellies. The seed can be eaten raw also or roasted. It yields edible oil. Both fruits and leaves, on the other hand, yield black dye.
Physical Characteristics

Chrysobalanus icaco is an evergreen Tree growing to 6 m (19ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Chrysobalanus atacorensis A.Chev. Chrysobalanus chariensis A.Chev. Chrysobalanus ellipticus Sol. ex
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Oil
Edible portion: Fruit, Kernel, Seeds, Nut. Fruit - raw or cooked. A fairly sweet, white, spongy flesh[ 307 ]. They are stewed in sugar, dried like prunes or made into jams and jellies[ 301 ]. The ovoid fruit is 2 - 5cm long[ 200 ]. The purple or red-skinned fruits are considered to have a superior flavour to white forms[ 307 ]. Seed - raw or cooked[ 301 ]. A delicious flavour[ 200 ]. They are roasted and eaten[ 301 ]. When preserving the fruits, they are pierced right through the centre, including the seed. This allows the juice of the fruit to penetrate the seed and, after separation from the shell, the nut-like kernel is eaten[ 301 ]. An edible oil can be extracted from the seed[ 307 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidiarrhoeal Astringent Dysentery Skin
The root, bark, fruit and leaves all contain tannins and are astringent[ 307 , 348 ]. They are used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and dyspepsia[ 307 , 348 ]. They are used externally as a wash to treat skin complaints[ 307 ]. The juice of the roots and leaves, mixed with oil, is used to contract the sphincters of the vulva by women wishing to simulate virginity, and the same preparation is used by men for treating flaccid scrotum[ 348 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.
Read More
Other Uses
Dye Hedge Lighting Oil Soil stabilization Tannin
Other uses rating: Medium (3/5). Seaside tree, Backyard tree, Screening, Hedging, Dune stabilization, Planter, Topiary, Xerophytic, Border, Espalier, Pollard, Planted as an ornamental shrub. Agroforestry Uses: Plants can be grown as a hedge[ 307 ]. They are particularly well suited for use by the sea[ 307 ]. The plant often forms large, rambling, impenetrable thickets and so it has been used to stabilize sand dunes[ 307 ]. Other Uses: An oil can be obtained from the seed[ 307 ] The seeds are so rich in oil that they can be strung on sticks and burnt like a candle[ 307 ]. The bark is rich in tannins[ 307 ]. A black dye can be obtained from the fruit[ 307 , 510 ]. A black dye can be obtained from the leaves[ 510 ].
Special Uses
Carbon Farming Espalier Food Forest Hedge
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Agroforestry Services: Living fence Management: Standard Regional Crop Staple Crop: Protein-oil
A plant for the humid lowland tropics[ 307 ]. Prefers a position in full sun or light shade[ 307 ]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[ 200 ]. Plants can succeed in both poor and fertile soils[ 335 ]. Requires a well-drained soil[ 307 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[ 307 ]. Very tolerant of salt-laden winds[ 307 ]. Plants have escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in some areas[ 307 ]. There is at least one named form[ 301 ]. Plants usually flower in two or more flushes per year[ 335 ], and can flower intermittently throughout the year[ 307 ].
Carbon Farming
-
Agroforestry Services: Living fence
Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
-
Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
-
Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
-
Staple Crop: Protein-oil
(16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
Shop Now
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A moderate germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 25 days[ 420 ]. When the seedlings are 4 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 6 - 7 months later[ 420 ]. Soft nodal cuttings. Woody stem cuttings, Layering.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Coco Plum or Chysobalanus icaco. Other Names: Icaco plum, Bopace, Cocoaplum, Ebenga, Ebenha, Enhapitche, Hicaco, Man du'a
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Found In: Africa, Amazon, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Brazil, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, C™te d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, GuinŽe, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South America, St Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
May be weedy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Vulnerable A1c
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
Readers comment
Add a comment |
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.
Subject : Chrysobalanus icaco
|
|
|
|