The sea grape tree is native to the tropical Americas and the Caribbean where it is found on the dunes and beach areas. While it can grow to be a large tree thirty feet tall or more, in cultivated landscapes it is mostly trimmed tightly to form shorter screens and barriers. The sea grape has large rounded green leaves with red veins which turn red in colder weather. The fruit appears in late summer in large green clusters which ripen to tasty red fruits. No wonder it is called a sea grape! The fruits can be eaten raw or used in jams, or wine. The wood is used in carpentry and the sap has been used for the preparation of leather. Because of its salt-tolerance and ease of propagation it is widely used in landscaping and environmental projects such as habitat restoration and dune stabilization.