How to Identify and Propagate Different Types of Wild Coffee for Your Florida Garden
Three bushes of different wild coffee species.
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Keywords

native plants
Rubiaceae
wild coffee
auxins
Psychotria
plant propagation

Categories

How to Cite

Young, Teagan, and Sandra Wilson. 2025. “How to Identify and Propagate Different Types of Wild Coffee for Your Florida Garden: ENH1387 EP651, 4 2025”. EDIS 2025 (2). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep651-2025.

Abstract

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.

https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep651-2025
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PDF 2025

References

AgriStarts. n.d. “Psychotria nervosa ‘Little Psycho’.” Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.agristarts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_ID/374/index.htm

Florida Native Plant Society. n.d. Home page. Accessed July 11, 2024. http://www.fnps.org

Gann, G. D., C. J. Abbott, K. N. Hines, et al. 2005–2016. “Natives for Your Neighborhood Florida Statewide Plant List.” The Institute for Regional Conservation. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/PlantList.asp

U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). 2012. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. USDA-ARS and Oregon State University Prism Climate Group.

Wunderlin, R. P., and B. F. Hansen. 2011. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida. 3rd ed. University Press of Florida.

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2025. Atlas of Florida Plants. [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu

Young, T. H., S. B. Wilson, M. Thetford, and J. Colee. 2022. “Cutting Propagation of Four Florida Native Taxa of Wild Coffee (Psychotria sp.).” Native Plants Journal 23 (3): 288–297. https://doi.org/10.3368/npj.23.3.288

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