Native Bahamian Edible Plants
Part 1
Sea Grape Coccoloba uvifera:
Seagrapes are native and common throughout The Bahamas, other Caribbean Islands, South Florida. Sea grapes can also naturally be found in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. In The Bahamas, we LOVE sea grapes and it marks the summer season. The fruits are medium to dark purple when ripe and can be sweet or tart depending on the tree. It's clear that everyone else loves sea grapes as much as we do, because now it's grown all over the world.
Although sea grape is most commonly known in The Bahamas for its fruit, it also has medicinal properties. Sea grape tea can be used to treat diarrhea while the leaves alone can be used for treating boils and headaches.
If you’re lucky enough to have access to too many sea grapes, you can make sea grape jam or wine or even use it as a natural dye. Seagrapes can grow up to 25ft and their wood is also useful traditionally being used for boat building.
Cocoplum Chrysobalanus icaco:
Cocoplum traditionally grows up to 15ft and is a coastal plant that is naturally found throughout The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Florida, and from southern Mexico to northern South America. Similar to sea grapes, many Bahamians love Cocoplum. You can often see people parked on the side of the road collecting their Cocoplum stash.
Cocoplum fruits can either be whitish yellow, white with a purplish hue or dark purple when ripe. They have a mild sweet flavor and a large seed in the middle, so eat cautiously. I’ve never heard of cocoplum wine or jam, but don’t let that stop you from experimenting.
Wild Saffron Sideroxylon americanum
Wild Saffron can be found throughout the Lucayan Archipelago (The Bahamas & Turks and Caicos Islands), Jamaica and Cuba. In The Bahamas, they grow in the Pine Forests and Coppice Forests. They’re leaves are green on top and brown and fuzzy on their undersides, so they tend to stand out among the other trees.
Wild Saffron also known as milk berry has a small fruit that turns purple when ripe and has a milky latex, so if you have an allergy to latex it may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
Traditionally, Wild Saffron tea has been used with White Torch Amyris elemifera as an afterbirth treatment.
Guanaberry Byrsonima lucida
Guanaberry naturally occurs in The Bahamas, the other Caribbean islands and Florida. This plant grows in various forests in The Bahamas like the Pine Forests, Coppice Forest & Palm Woodlands. It can even be found in overgrown urban areas.
Guanaberry has beautiful pink to light pink flowers that attract local insects and pollinators like bees, birds and butterflies. Its fruit is dark orange when ripe and has a tangy flavor. If you prefer liquor over wine, this is your fruit. Guanaberry ferments easily so it can be used to make liquors.
Additionally, Guanaberry has medicinal uses. It has been used in The Bahamas for afterbirth care (clearing lungs), during labor and during pregnancy. It has also been used as a strengthening tea and to help with diarrhea.
Pigeon Plum Coccoloba diversifolia
Pigeon Plum naturally occurs throughout the Lucayan Archipelago (The Bahamas & Turks and Caicos Islands), Jamaica and Cuba. In The Bahamas, you can find Pigeon Plum near the coastline, in Pine Forests and in Coppice forests.
Pigeon Plums grow their fruits in clusters, which are a deep purple when ripe. These fruits can be mildly sweet when ripe. But if you eat them before they’re fully ripe they can be astringent since the skin and flesh contain natural tannins.
They are not known to be used medicinally in The Bahamas, but they may make a good dry wine.
Native landscaping
It is important that when we build we consider the environments we are building in. All of these plants are native to The Bahamas, so they would make great, resilient landscaping plants with the added bonus of producing edible fruits. Sea Grape and Cocoplum are great for hedges, while Guanaberry and Wild Saffron can add a great pop of color to a garden. Additionally, if you’re looking for shady options, Pigeon Plum, Sea Grape and Wild Saffron are great choices.
If you’re planning a landscaping project or just looking for native additions to your property, consider these. They’ll benefit you and the native ecosystem.
Sources: Leon Levy Native Preserve; iNaturalist
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