see also, Coconut Palm Tree

The Coconut Palm is one of the most useful and one of the best knows trees in the world. It is also probably one of the most ancient plants on the planet.  The beautiful ornamental tree grows everywhere in tropical and subtropical regions and creates tropical paradise.

It is extensively cultivated for food, beverages, oil, clothing, house thatching and in medicine. Every part of this tree has some use, nothing is wasted. Is is caled a “tree of life”.

Coconut’s flesh could be eaten fresh as food or used to make coconut milk. Coconut’s water or juice could be eaten as a juice. Palm’s oil can be used to make coconut oil for cooking, margarines, cosmetics, soap,  fuel and candles. The fibrous husk produces fiber for making clothing, ropes and fuel for cooking. The fronds of a coconut tree are used to make baskets, fans, hats, furniture and little animals. The trunk could be used for construction.

Additional Information:

Scientific name: Cocos Nucifera

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Cocos

Origin: It is unknown, it could be everywhere in the world. Some historians believe Malaysia, Indonesia and India grew the first coconut palms. It has been cultivated in India for 3000 years.

Growth rate: Fast growing

Trunk: The single, smooth, straight, slightly swollen at the base, light grey-brown trunk can reach a height of 80-100 feet tall.

Leaves: The large feather-like leaves can reach 20 feet in length.

Indoor/Outdoor Use: Outdoor

Maintenance: Moderate. It requires removing fruits so they don’t fall and cause injury or property damage.

Light exposure: It loves full sun.

Water requirements: Moderate

Drought toleration: It is drought tolerant.

Cold toleration: It is not cold hardy, the palm likes heat. The tree won’t take temperature below 30 F, but it is wind tolerant. It can take high winds from hurricanes.

Flowers: The stalks of white-yellow flowers come among the leaves.

Fruits: The trees start to produce  fruits after 6-10 years. It takes one year for a flower to transform into a fruit. Each tree produces about 40-70 fruits each year. 10-12 clusters of fruits with 10-12 fruits on each one come among the leaves.

India, Indonesia and Philippine are leaders of the coconut production in the world. About 17 billion nuts are harvested each year. The fruits are hightly nutritous. They are green and oval.  When ripe they are brown.

Propagation: It is propagated from seed. Germination takes several months (about 9 month).

Return to Florida Palm Trees.