Arabian Coffee (Coffea arabica)

How much light does an Arabian Coffee need?

Place arabian coffee where it gets bright, indirect light instead of direct sun. Outdoors, give it part shade. Some sources also list full sun as a tolerated condition outdoors. This species grows at a moderate rate. Mature plants can spread 6 ft to 15 ft (1.83 m to 4.57 m) wide. It also needs high humidity to do well. Outdoors, it grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b, and some sources extend that range to 12b. Its native range includes Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. The soil should drain well and stay moist. A neutral soil pH between 6.0 and 8.0 suits this plant. You can propagate it from seed or stem cuttings. Coffee is toxic to both cats and dogs. Common pests include scale, mealybugs, and spider mites.

• Light: Bright, indirect light¹

Best soil for an Arabian Coffee

Arabian coffee needs soil with good drainage. Keep the soil moist rather than letting it dry out completely. Aim for a neutral pH, between 6.0 and 8.0. Outdoors, this species grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b, and some sources extend that range to 12b. Native populations are found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. This plant also needs high humidity to grow well. It also needs bright, indirect light indoors. It grows at a moderate rate. You can propagate it from seed or stem cuttings. Coffee is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep plant parts away from pets. It produces white blooms.

• Soil drainage: Well drained and moist²
• Soil pH: pH 6–8²

Temperature and humidity

Arabian coffee struggles once temperatures fall to 41°F (5°C) or below. Constant cold at that point can cause leaf drop and tree decline. This plant also needs high humidity to do well indoors. Outdoors, it grows best in USDA zones 10a to 11b, with some sources listing a range up to 12b. It grows at a moderate rate. Its native range spans Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. It also prefers bright, indirect light rather than direct sun. Mature plants can spread 6 ft to 15 ft (1.83 m to 4.57 m) wide. The soil should also drain well. It produces white blooms. Coffee is toxic to cats and dogs.

• Minimum temperature: 41 °F (5 °C)³
• Humidity: High³

Pruning an Arabian Coffee

Arabian coffee tolerates light shaping to keep its form neat. For an older or overgrown plant, a hard renewal prune works too. Do this during the warm part of the year. This species grows at a moderate rate. Mature plants can spread 6 ft to 15 ft (1.83 m to 4.57 m) wide. The plant also needs bright, indirect light and high humidity to do well. It is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. It produces white blooms.

• Pruning: Light shaping and Hard renewal pruning⁴

How to propagate an Arabian Coffee

You can start arabian coffee from seed. Stem cuttings also work, taken from stems 3/16 to 5/16 in (5 to 8 mm) in diameter. This plant produces white blooms. Its native range includes Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. It has also been introduced to Hawaii and Puerto Rico in the United States. This species grows at a moderate rate. It also needs bright, indirect light to grow well indoors. Coffee is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep seedlings and cuttings away from pets.

• Propagation: Seed and stem cuttings³

Common problems

Several pests can affect arabian coffee, including scale, mealybugs, thrips, caterpillars, and spider mites. The coffee berry borer and black twig borer are two more to watch for, along with leaf miners and green scale. Diseases include coffee leaf rust, coffee wilt disease, coffee berry disease, and American leaf spot. The soil should also have good drainage. Soil pH should stay between 6.0 and 8.0.

• Common pests: scale, mealybugs, thrips, caterpillars, spider mites, coffee berry borer, black twig borer, leaf miner and green scale^2,5
• Common diseases: coffee leaf rust, coffee wilt disease, coffee berry disease and american leaf spot⁵

Questions and answers

Is Arabian coffee toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes, Arabian coffee is toxic to both cats and dogs. Dogs and cats are more sensitive to caffeine than people, so eating beans or grounds can cause severe poisoning. Contact your vet or a pet poison line if that happens. It also needs bright, indirect light to stay healthy. This species grows at a moderate rate.

How much light does Arabian coffee need indoors?

Give it bright, indirect light rather than direct sun. Outdoors, it prefers part shade, though some sources also list it tolerating full sun. It also needs high humidity to thrive. The soil should also drain well and stay moist. This plant produces white blooms. This species grows at a moderate rate.

What soil does Arabian coffee need?

Plant it in well-drained soil that still stays moist. Aim for a neutral pH between 6.0 and 8.0. This species grows at a moderate rate. Native populations are found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. It also needs bright, indirect light and high humidity. Coffee is toxic to cats and dogs.