Japanese name: コーヒーノキ（珈琲木） Scientific name:Coffea arabica
[Overview]
An evergreen shrub or small tree about 9–12 m tall.
The leaves are simple and opposite, long ovate, 6–12 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, glossy on the upper surface, with conspicuous veins.
The leaf margins are entire or wavy.
The flowers are borne in clusters in the leaf axils; the corolla is 1–1.5 cm across, white to yellow, and 4–9-lobed.
The fruit is an elliptic drupe that changes from green to red to purple as it ripens.
[Uses]
The seeds are used as coffee beans.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, moisture-retentive, weakly acidic soil.
It is weak against cold and needs 10°C or above even in winter, so in winter bring it indoors to a sunny spot.
From spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; in winter, water sparingly.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
Pests include scale insects and spider mites.
