Pigeon Plum, a Native Salt-Tolerant Shade Tree, Planted for You
Where salt, wind and sandy soil rule out many shade trees, pigeon plum, a Florida native evergreen, does very well in Southwest Florida. It makes a rounded, dense canopy 20 to 40 ft tall with glossy leaves, and birds love the fruit. We plant 25 and 45 gallon trees, delivered to your lot.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Moderate until established; very drought tolerant after
- Salt:
- High for salt spray; low for long-term salt or brackish flooding
Pigeon Plum
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Pigeon Plum sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Pigeon Plum | 25 Gallon, 45 Gallon |
Pigeon Plum in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 20 to 40 ft tall and 20 to 35 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate until established; very drought tolerant after
- Salt tolerance
- High for salt spray; low for long-term salt or brackish flooding
- Cold tolerance
- Leaf burn in a hard frost; young trees need cover inland, mature coastal trees are usually fine
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Florida native
- Yes
- Botanical name
- Coccoloba diversifolia
Where Pigeon Plum works in a SW Florida yard
Pigeon plum anchors a waterfront or coastal yard where a less salt-tolerant tree would struggle: a single specimen, a pair flanking the drive, or a canopy at the back of the lot. The dense crown gives real shade, and the small fruit in late fall and winter draws birds.
Plant it 15 to 20 ft from the house, away from patios and parking, and put coontie, cocoplum or sea grape around it.
- Native shade trees
- Canal and coastal lots
- Bird and wildlife gardens
- Street and front-yard trees
How our crew plants it
Make the hole two to three times the width of the root ball and no deeper, with the root flare level with the soil. Backfill with native soil, add a mulch ring clear of the trunk, and water in deeply.
Water often for the first two months, as Lee and Collier allow for new plantings; after that it is very drought tolerant.
Care after planting
- In the first year, soak the tree weekly during the dry months; after that rainfall carries it.
- Prune for structure while it is young and later remove only dead or crossing limbs.
- Fertilize lightly in spring with a slow-release tree product that has micronutrients; nothing with nitrogen or phosphorus goes down from June 1 to September 30.
- Keep the mulch ring and the mower away from the trunk.
What to watch for
- Fallen fruit stains and litters patios, walks and cars for about two months in late fall and winter, so keep it off hardscape.
- Leaves can burn in a hard freeze and young trees may drop leaves, so coastal sites are safest.
- Chewing insects occasionally nibble new growth, but it rarely needs treatment.
Pigeon Plum questions we hear
Is pigeon plum salt tolerant?+
Yes, it is very tolerant of salt spray and sandy coastal soil, which is why it is a classic canal-lot and beachside tree. It does not like long-term flooding with salt or brackish water, so plant it above the tide line, not in the wet edge of a seawall bed.
How fast does pigeon plum grow?+
At a moderate pace, a bit faster in full sun with regular water. Expect it to settle in during the first year or two and then add steady height. A 25 or 45 gallon tree gives you a head start on shade compared with a small nursery tree.
Is pigeon plum fruit messy?+
Yes, for a couple of months. Small dark purple berries ripen in late fall and winter and drop in quantity, which stains patios, pool decks and cars. Birds eat much of it. Plant the tree 20 ft or more from hard surfaces, or choose a spot where fruit can fall on mulch or lawn.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Pigeon Plum
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.