Native to South Florida, Psychotria nervosa is a striking evergreen shrub featuring deep green, waxy, and intricately veined leaves. Although its white flowers may go unnoticed, they eventually yield appealing red berries reminiscent of coffee beans, hence its common name, "wild coffee." This multi-trunk shrub displays remarkable adaptability, making it suitable for various landscaping purposes. It can be employed for mass plantings, pruned to form espaliers, hedges, or privacy screens, or allowed to grow as a moderate-height specimen, reaching up to 15 feet in height. Psychotria nervosa thrives in various soil conditions, tolerating poor soil as long as it is well-drained and consistently moist. Planting it in filtered light enhances the attractiveness of its form and foliage, although it can also withstand full sun, with the caveat that this might cause premature leaf yellowing. It graces gardens with its blooms throughout the spring and summer, typically from April to September. This plant is a member of the Madder family, which encompasses "true" coffee and quinine. It is well-suited for cultivation in zones 9 to 12.
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Growing Instructions
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- Soak the seed in water for several hours.
- Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet.
- Put the seeds on the soil.
- Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
- Water the seeds.
- Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade.
- When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.