What is a Seagrape?

If you are not a resident of Florida or other Caribbean countries, your curiosity has you wondering. Are they related to the table grapes, can wine be created from them?

The seagrape reminds me of the large red globe grapes. Unlike the wine grape, this grape grows in several configurations: a tree, a large shrub, a ground cover. If you live along a coastal region where the temp does not drop below 26F, they seem to thrive in those environments where there is a high salt content. They boast awesome large elephant-like ears in dark green and their grapes purple and provide a sweet snack, jam, or, wine. It can become a tree up to 50 feet tall and over 24 inches in trunk diameter. It grows equally well inland or on the coast. The distinctive leaves are slightly broader than long, mostly 3-10 inches long and 4-12 inches across. Unlike conventional grapes that ripen together in a cluster, seagrape ripen individually. A cluster may have some drupes in it that are green, some that are ripe and others that represent every degree in between. As to pests, aphids love the plant and the only disease is leaf spot.

They are a beautiful tree. Like many plants in tropical areas, this is quite a hardy plant being able to survive 26F. Many palms can survive this temp or even lower ones. The issue with hardiness is how long is the plant exposed to their minimum temp levels. The longer period of time, the more damage occurs. So, in many places tropical plants can survive winters with low temps with some vigilance.