Coffea

( kaw - fee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Coffee, these plants produce the fruits necessary to make the popular caffeinated beverage. It is one of the most valuable crops worldwide, and is an important export of Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. Flowers on these plants are white and highly fragrant, and are followed by bright red fruits that are called cherries. Use these shrubs or small trees as hedges, as ornamental plants, or as members of edible landscapes or orchards in tropical regions. Take care when planting these shrubs in the landscape or keeping them as houseplants, as plant parts are toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

Coffea Species and Varietals

The genus Coffea includes around 120 species, and is a member of the plant family Rubiaceae. New species are still being discovered and categorized. The best growing zones for Coffea plants are USDA hardiness zones 9-11, and they are also grown indoors as houseplants or in greenhouses. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Coffea arabica (Arabica Coffee, Arabian Coffee, Mountain Coffee)
This species is native to southern Ethiopia and Yemen, and reaches up to 40 feet tall in the wild. Flowers are white, and fruits are bright red to purple when mature. This species accounts for 60% of the coffee-producing trees in the world. The main cultivars of this species include 'Typica', 'Bourbon', 'Caturra', 'Catimor', 'Jackson', 'Kona', 'Pacamara', and 'Villabos'. This species is sometimes grown as a houseplant. This species is considered invasive in Australia, Hawai'i, and Sri Lanka.

Coffea benghalensis (Bengal Coffee, Wavy Coffee, Indian Coffee Tree, Akhaji, Dewamali, Kothnaphul)
This species is native to India, Bangledesh, Bhutan and Nepal where it is commonly found in disturbed areas in monsoon forests. Individual shrubs can reach up to 6.5-10 feet tall at maturity. Flowers are white and foliage is dark green and glossy.

Coffea canephora (Coffea robusta) (Robusta Coffee, Congo Coffee)
This species is native to central and western sub-Saharan Africa. There are two main varieties, 'Robusta' and 'Nganda'. These plants have shallow root systems and flower irregularly. Beans have a lower acidity, more bitter and woody flavor than those of Coffea arabica.

Coffea charrieriana (Charrier Coffee)
This species is native to Cameroon, and produces a caffeine-free fruit. It was discovered in 2008 and was named for Professor A. Charrier, who made significant contributions to the coffee industry. Flowers appear about a week after rains come through. A Brazilian cultivated variety is 'Decaffito'. These plants are naturally caffeine-free.

Coffea liberica (Liberian Coffee, Liberian Coffee Tree, Kapeng Barako)
These plants are native to western and central Africa, and are some of the tallest in the genus (up to 80 feet in height). Varieties include 'Liberica' and 'Dewevrei'. The shape of beans is unique, with a hooked tip. Beans are full-bodied with smoky, woody, and nutty undertones.

Did You Know? It takes about 16 Coffea plants to produce the amount of Coffee consumed by the average American in a year.

Coffea racemosa (Racemosa Coffee, Inhambane Coffee, Mozambique Coffee, Wild Coffee)
This species produces naturally low levels of caffeine in its beans, and is native to a small area in South Africa. Fruit are about a third the size of those produced by Coffea arabica. Flowers are pink to white and the plant reaches about 11 feet tall at maturity.

Coffea stenophylla (Highland Coffee, Sierra Leone Coffee, Narrow-Leaved Coffee)
This species originates in West Africa, and has narrow leaves. These trees produce less fruit, and those it does produce are smaller than those of most other species, so it is not commonly cultivated for commercial harvests. This species is, however, heat-tolerant, and is being used to develop more heat-tolerant varieties of other species in preparation for warming global temperatures.

Caring for Coffea

Plant Coffea shrubs in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. When these flowers are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Coffee shrubs appreciate consistently moist soils, especially during active growing, blooming and fruiting periods.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season. These shrubs and small trees can reach up to 30 feet tall, though they are commonly hard pruned to stay much shorter (around 5-7 feet tall) to make harvesting easier and to increase yields. Begin training young plants early on. To create a small tree form, make sure to remove any lower branches and choose a strong leader to develop. Coffea plants have a life span that ranges from 30 to 100 years, and are typically most productive between 7 and 20 years of age.

Growing Coffea Indoors
These shrubs and small trees can be grown indoors or in greenhouses outside of their preferred climate zones (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). Indoors, they should be grown in a large container and placed in an area that receives bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch leaves. Temperatures should remain between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for best performance. They appreciate a humidity of 50% or higher. Repot Coffea plants every 2-3 years when they outgrow their container. A good indicator that a repot is needed is that roots will grow through the drainage holes at the base of the container.

Propagation

Coffea shrubs or small trees can be propagated by cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Coffee plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Coffea by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a container, a pot or tray, potting medium, and a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Abelia seeds are located inside fruiting bodies called achenes, which are brown to copper in color and leathery, present on stems after flowers have faded. Each achene contains one light brown to reddish-brown seed. Collect seeds and place them in a container during harvesting to avoid losing them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them lightly with soil and water with a spray bottle. Place the sown seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-4 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of a fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet. Keep your seedling in an area with bright light and temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.

Propagating Coffea by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summer or early fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances the cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-8 inch softwood or semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. It should be kept in warm, sunny conditions in a protected area. Water whenever the soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, the cutting should be rooted. New growth indicates the formation of roots.
Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.