Arabica coffee
Coffea arabica · Rubiaceae
📷 Marcelo Corrêa · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Caféine et théobromine toxiques pour chiens et chats par ingestion de graines. Humains: excès peut être problématique chez enfants.
The gardener's calendar
Arabica coffee is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Coffea arabica
- Family
- Rubiaceae
- Plant type
- Shrub
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- September to November
- Adult size
- Up to 3.5 m in height
- Origin
- Ethiopia
- Hardiness
- Frost-sensitive (minimum 10-15°C)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Keep the substrate regularly moist (not waterlogged). Coffee plants prefer rainwater.
The common mistake
Placing it too far from light — coffee plants decline rapidly without intense light (even in partial shade they struggle).
The pro's trick
Wait 3-4 years before counting on a real harvest.
Care
Light Exposure
Arabic coffee enjoys bright, indirect light; avoid scorching afternoon sun which could burn its leaves. Indoors, place it near an east or west-facing window. In outdoor cultivation under tropical climates, partial shade (30-50%) is ideal to limit water stress.
Watering
Keep the substrate moist but never waterlogged; excess water causes root rot. Water regularly during warm periods and reduce slightly in winter. Preferably use non-limey or rainwater at room temperature.
Soil
Arabic coffee prefers rich, slightly acidic, well-draining and fertile soil. Prepare a mixture containing potting soil, mature compost and perlite or sand to ensure good aeration. A pH between 6 and 6.5 is optimal for this demanding plant.
Fertilizer
Fertilize regularly during growth (spring-autumn) with balanced fertilizer or one slightly rich in potassium. Reduce applications in winter. Annual addition of well-decomposed compost naturally enriches the soil.
Pruning and Shaping
Prune the coffee plant in spring to encourage dense branching and control its height. Remove dead or weak branches and dried fruits. Light pruning improves aeration and stimulates subsequent flowering.
Diseases and Pests
Watch for scale insects, spider mites and whiteflies which thrive in dry interiors. Regularly check the undersides of leaves and treat quickly if infestation occurs. Root rot, linked to excess moisture, is the main risk in indoor cultivation.
Did you know?
Arabic coffee is the source of more than 60% of world coffee production and owes its name to the Arabian Peninsula, a major historical center of coffee trade from the 15th century onwards. This plant produces red berries containing two seeds (the famous coffee beans) which are fermented and roasted to obtain the coffee we consume; you must wait 3 to 4 years before the first significant harvest!
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Sweet woodruffGalium odoratum
- PartridgeberryMitchella repens
- ButtonbushCephalanthus occidentalis
- Cape jasmineGardenia jasminoides
- Caucasian crosswortPhuopsis stylosa
- Baby lilac shrubLeptodermis oblonga
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.