Coffea arabica, the coffee plant, is an evergreen houseplant grown for its glossy, deep green leaves and upright, bushy growth habit. Native to the tropical highlands of Ethiopia, it brings a lush, tropical feel to a bright living room, office or conservatory.

Young plants are grown chiefly for their foliage: oval leaves with gently waved edges held on an upright stem. Only on mature specimens, usually several years old, do small white flowers appear, followed by the red coffee cherries the plant takes its name from; this is unlikely to happen on a young houseplant within its first few years.

Supplied as an established young plant in a 12cm pot, it is ready to pot on into a larger container as it grows. Coffee plants contain caffeine, concentrated in the beans but also present in the leaves, and are toxic to cats and dogs, so keep the plant out of their reach.

Give it bright, indirect light out of harsh midday sun, and keep the compost consistently moist without letting it become waterlogged, watering a little less in winter. It likes moderate to high humidity, so stand it on a pebble tray or mist the leaves regularly, keep it away from cold draughts, and feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser every two to four weeks through the growing season. As a strictly indoor plant it needs to stay above about 15°C.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Coffee Plant, Arabian Coffee Plant
• Botanical Name: Coffea arabica
• Growth Habit: Upright, bushy evergreen shrub
• Perfect For: Bright living rooms, conservatories, offices and other warm indoor spaces
• Foliage: Glossy, deep green, oval leaves with gently wavy margins
• Flowering Time: Spring to summer on mature plants only, rarely in the first few years as a houseplant
• Planting Position: Bright, indirect light; avoid direct midday sun
• Hardiness: Tender, rated H1a; keep above about 15°C and away from cold draughts
• Maintenance: Keep compost consistently moist, raise humidity around the plant, and feed in the growing season
• Type: Tender evergreen houseplant