Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Coma is a warm season shrub or small tree common to South Texas. Coma grows in a variety of soil types throughout the region, usually in small mottes with numerous trees of varying sizes. White-tailed deer frequently browse the leaves; other mammals and a variety of birds readily consume the fruit. Fruits are produced from early-to-mid summer. The seeds should be cleaned from the fruit upon collection. Germination can be increased by acid or cold scarification to break the hard seed coat and dormancy. Seeds planted soon after collection may easily germinate without treatment.