Unusual Houseplants: the Sea Grape

The Sea Grape, coccoloba uvifera, is native to tropical regions and is commonly found along many beaches in Florida. Because of its hardiness and root structure, it is typically used to stabilize beach fronts. The sea grape is also drought and saltwater tolerant. It can be grown from seed or by cloning. Bonsai specimens, easily found online, show the extreme versatility of this species.

Sea Grape Fruit

The name “sea grape” is a reference to the tree’s fruit which are very similar to other grapes and can be made into jam. However, it rarely produces fruit when being cultivated indoors.

Sea Grape and Feng Shui

According to The Practical Encyclopedia of Feng Shui, plants with round, flexible leaves are used to promote calmness. When placed in the bedroom, the sea grape contributes to the flow of love energies, bringing them back around to the occupant – much like the symbolism of a wedding ring. In this way, the sea grape may be a better candidate than the more commonly used jade plant.

How to Propagate Sea Grape

With a little patience, cloning the sea grape can be very successful. While the roots are slow to begin, they can grow inches per day once firmly established. A sterile, non-organic medium such as perlite is best for cloning.

1. Poke a series of tiny holes in the bottom of a plastic drinking cup and fill it halfway with the propagating medium.
2. Choose a cutting from a small branch that is between two and four inches long and remove all but the top two leaves.
3. Place this cutting into the medium at least halfway down, but do not go all the way to the bottom of the cup. A rooting hormone is unnecessary.

Although the cutting can survive for a while in a medium that has completely dried, it should be kept at least damp. Roots may not show up for a month or more, so do not give up hope unless all the leaves have been lost. New growth will quickly begin after being transplanted into soil.

The sea grape can grow in a soil mixture that is almost entirely sand but does seem to show a slight preference for commercially available potting soil.

Caring for Sea Grape Plants

Once established, this plant will thrive under all kinds of abuse. It grows well without fertilizer, placed in harsh sun, and with a watering schedule that borders on neglect. Any special care shown to it will be rewarded with interesting growth not typically found on common houseplants. The new growth is red, becoming a waxy-green with ripples across the surface of mature leaves.

When allowed to grow untrained, the sea grape will have a mostly vertical appearance and the stem will elongate to the point of bending over. Once a height of three feet is reached staking may be necessary. A sea grape placed near an open window which gets any amount of breeze will strengthen the stem, allowing for a greater height without needing additional support. If the plant is exhibiting a “leggy” appearance then increased leaf production can be accomplished simply by increasing the amount of direct sunlight it receives.

Treating Sea Grape Problems

Pests are rarely a problem, mostly due to the hardiness of the stem and leaves. An infestation, if it ever were to occur, can be dealt with as severely as necessary with little consideration to the plant. A strong spray from a garden hose or faucet will cause practically no damage. Pesticides are easily washed off the leaves.

Indoor Sea Grape plant

Sea Grape cutting being cloned

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