Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa)

Quick Facts

• Type: shrub
• Size: 3-6 ft tall
• Sun: shade
• Water: moderate
• Soil: Rich, well-drained hammock soils
• USDA zones: 9-11

Glossy quilted leaves, white flowers, and red berries – the classic hammock understory shrub.

Made for deep shade where nothing blooms; no caffeine despite the name, all wildlife value.

In the Landscape

The classic hammock understory shrub, perfect for shade gardens, foundation plantings, and loose informal hedges. Group several together for a massed effect along shady edges.

Care & Propagation

Plant in spring in part to full shade in rich, well-drained soil, spacing 3 to 4 feet apart. Water regularly until established, since it can wilt in dry spells. It clips nicely into shape and needs almost no fertilizer.

Easy from semi-hardwood cuttings, which root readily with or without rooting hormone, or from fresh seed sown in warm, shaded soil. It also self-seeds politely around the garden.

Wildlife Value

The white spring and summer flower clusters attract butterflies and bees, and the bright red berries are a favorite of fruit-eating birds. It is one of the most reliable shade plants for feeding wildlife.

🌱 Fun fact: Despite the name, wild coffee contains no caffeine at all. It got the name simply because the red berries look like coffee beans.

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🌴 In Florida

Made for deep shade where nothing blooms; no caffeine despite the name, all wildlife value.

🌿 Keep exploring

More Florida natives worth meeting:

• Adam's Needle (Yucca filamentosa)
• Allegheny chinquapin (Castanea pumila)
• American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)