Arabian Coffee – Coffea arabica

General Landscape Uses: Agroforestry and shade-grown coffee farms, ornamental shrub in tropical gardens, pollinator-friendly hedging

Ecological Restoration Notes: Its ability to thrive in shade-grown, agroforestry systems makes it a sustainable crop that supports biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and soil health.

Description: Coffee plants are a great addition to the edible garden!  It is from this plant that coffee beans come from, used to create one of our favorite beverages.  You can harvest your own beans by collecting the seeds and roasting them.  The plants themselves are fairly easy to grow.

Dimensions: Height 6 ft.

Growth Rate: Moderate

Native Range: Ethiopia and Yemen

Native Habitats: tropical montane forests

Soils: well-drained, loamy, slightly acidic

Nutritional Requirements: Requires consistent moisture for nutrient absorption.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low

Salt Wind Tolerance: Low

Drought Tolerance: Moderate

Light Requirements: Full Sun to Shade

Flower Color: White

Flower Characteristics: star-shaped

Flowering Season: after rainy periods

Fruit: Start green, turn red, yellow, or purple when ripe.  Each fruit contains two seeds (coffee beans).

Wildlife and Ecology: Thrives under forest canopies, supporting agroforestry systems; pollinator attraction; carbon sequestration

Horticultural Notes: Grown from seed or cuttings.