sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) observed in S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL, US
iNaturalist: emchale
Urban Ecology
iNaturalistSea 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 abstract on iNaturalistAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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