Coffea arabica: Coffee

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Introduction

Arabian coffee is an economically important plant to many countries as it produces the coffee beans used in coffee production. This plant is native to countries in Africa but is cultivated in many countries in South and Central America, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii. It is a medium-textured, dense, upright shrub with a height and spread of 6 to 15 feet (Figure 1). Coffee has evergreen glossy, wavy edged, unusually dark green leaves, which have a whorled leaf arrangement on the stem (Figure 2). The showy flowers are fragrant, white, starry-shaped, and appear in the spring and summer. Flowers are arranged in clusters at the nodes (Figure 3). Following the flowers, green berries that contain two seeds gradually turn red once mature (Figure 4). These two seeds, or coffee beans contained within the showy fruit, are suitable for home roasting and grinding. Along with the edible aspect of this plant, coffee may also be used as a specimen plant, is suitable in containers or above-ground planters, makes a good hedge or border in the garden, or may be used as an espalier.

General Information

Scientific name: Coffea arabica

Pronunciation: KOFF-ee-uh uh-RAB-bick-uh

Common name(s): coffee; Arabian coffee; coffee plant

Family: Rubiaceae

Plant type: shrub

USDA hardiness zones: 10A through 11B (Figures 5 and 6)

Planting month for zones 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: fruit; specimen; container or above-ground planter; hedge; near a deck or patio; espalier; border

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 6 to 15 feet

Spread: 6 to 15 feet

Plant habit: round

Plant density: dense

Growth rate: fast

Texture: medium

Use and Management

Coffee should be planted in a location with partial shade, and in a moist soil rich in organic matter. Soil should have consistent moisture, but not be overwatered, as this leads to root rot. Regular pruning can keep the plant attractive at any desirable size. This shrub is suitable for containers, specimen plantings, or used as a small understory tree in hammocks and wild wooded areas. It also makes a nice backdrop in a shrub border. It may also be used as a houseplant, if maintained at a shorter stature and placed in bright indirect light and high humidity. Coffee takes 3 to 4 years after establishment to produce flowers and fruit.

Propagation is by seed.

Design Considerations

Coffea arabica offers glossy, deep green evergreen foliage and a tidy, upright form that adds refined texture and year-round color to shaded plantings. It performs best as a specimen in courtyards or patios, a foundation plant on protected east or north-facing exposures, or a midlayer backdrop in tropical beds; it also works well in containers where its foliage and seasonal berries can be appreciated up close. It pairs well with other shade-loving plants, such as ferns for textural contrast or bromeliads (Aechmea spp., Billbergia spp., Guzmania spp.) and caladiums (Caladium bicolor and hybrids) to add a splash of color beneath its leaves.

Pests and Diseases

Pest issues include scales, mites, thrips, and caterpillars. Disease issues may include coffee leaf rust. Coffee plants are susceptible to mineral deficiencies and root rot from overwatering.