sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) observed in S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL, US
iNaturalist: emchale
Urban Ecology
Sea grape is one of the toughest salt-tolerant shrubs you can grow near the beach, and confirmed sightings like this help gardeners and coastal planners know exactly where it thrives naturally — making it a smarter, lower-maintenance choice for seaside landscaping.
Someone walking along the coast in New Smyrna Beach, Florida photographed a sea grape plant and submitted it to iNaturalist, where enough people confirmed the identification to give it 'research grade' status. Sea grape is a native Florida shrub with large round leaves and clusters of grape-like fruits that wildlife love to eat. It naturally grows right along the shore and helps stabilize sandy coastal areas.
Key Findings
Observation achieved research-grade status on iNaturalist, meaning multiple expert reviewers confirmed the species identification
Location is S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL — a coastal corridor consistent with sea grape's known salt-spray and sandy-soil habitat
Coccoloba uvifera is a native Florida species, so this sighting contributes to citizen-science range documentation rather than flagging an invasive concern
chevron_right Technical Summary
A sea grape plant was spotted and confirmed by the iNaturalist community along South Atlantic Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, Florida — adding a verified data point to the documented range of this coastal native shrub.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of sea grape in S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Coccoloba uvifera is a species of tree and flowering plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Its common names include seagrape and baygrape. It is native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean. It has edible fruit, among other uses.