Wild Coffee

Edward F. Gilman, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen

This document provides an overview of Psychotria nervosa, commonly known as wild coffee, a native shrub of Florida. It details the plant’s characteristics, including its glossy green leaves, white flowers, and red fruit. The shrub is moderately drought-tolerant, thrives in partial to full shade, and is suitable for various landscape uses such as hedges, borders, and mass plantings. The document also highlights the plant’s non-invasive nature, moderate growth rate, and its attraction to birds. Additionally, it notes the plant’s adaptability to different soil types and its lack of serious pest issues. Original publication date September 1999.

Edward F. Gilman, Keighly Graves, Wendy Wilber, Tom Wichman, Claire Lewis, Gail Hansen, andRyan Klein

Colubrina is a small evergreen tree native to Florida. It has large glossy leaves and fruit that attracts birds. Colubrina has a variety of uses in the landscape including as a reclamation plant, may be trained as a standard or hedge, used as a specimen, as an espalier, for small parking lot islands, as a lawn tree or border in the landscape.

Teagan Young and Sandra B. Wilson

Rubiaceae, a family known for its economic and ornamental significance, includes several native Florida species, such as wild coffee (Psychotria spp.). This publication focuses on identifying and propagating wild coffee species: P. nervosa, P. nervosa 'Little Psycho', P. nervosa 'Turtle Mound', P. tenuifolia, and P. ligustrifolia. These species thrive in various soil conditions and attract pollinators, making them valuable, adaptable, and appealing for sustainable landscapes and Florida gardens. Research on propagation methods revealed that while physiological dormancy makes seed germination challenging, softwood cuttings treated with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) showed high success rates in rooting. The publication outlines a production schedule, recommending specific substrates and misting techniques to optimize root development. It provides critical insights into enhancing the availability and cultivation of wild coffee species, promoting their use in Florida-friendly landscapes.