Coffee Plant

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The coffee plant, scientifically known as Coffea arabica (Arabica) or Coffea canephora (Robusta), is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Rubiaceae family native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia. While wild plants can grow 9 to 12 meters (30–39 ft) tall, commercial cultivars are typically trimmed to 1.8–3 meters (6–10 ft) for easier harvesting. Physical characteristics include glossy, dark green, elliptical leaves with wavy margins that grow in opposite pairs. The plant produces fragrant, star-shaped white flowers (resembling jasmine) in clusters of 2 to 9, which bloom after a dry period and last only a few days. Following pollination, the plant develops drupes (coffee cherries) that ripen from green to red, purple, yellow, or orange, each containing one or two seeds known as coffee beans. Growth conditions favor partial shade, high humidity, and well-drained, organically rich soil, with optimal temperatures between 15 and 24 °C (59–75 °F). The plant typically begins producing flowers 3 to 4 years after planting and reaches full production around 5 to 7 years, with a productive lifespan of 15 to 25 years or more under good conditions. Show more