Common Name: Coconut Palm

Cocos nucifera, the Coconut Palm, is unlikely to be new to anyone, it has been used by humans for thousands of years and is the most econocally important of all palm species. Cultivated, not only for it's nut, but for coconut oil, coir products (made from the fibrous husks) and the trunks and leaves are used in local communities for construction and thatching. Having been in cultivation for so long, it's exact origins are unknown, though it's likely to have been Islands of the South Pacific. Selective breeding over such a long period has given rise to various cultivars, which vary in size and appearance. Heights range from 18-30m/60-100' with a soliatary trunk of 300mm/12" diameter with a noticeable basal flare. The trunk is smooth, mid gray to almost white and ringed with the scars of old leaf bases. Trunks are often leaning or contorted, either as the result of reaching for greater exposure to the sun or due to nutitional deficiencies. The full crown carries many light to dark green leaves up to 6m/20' in length. The short, up to 1.2m/4', petioles also vary between cultvars from a yellowish green to a dark golden shade. The petiole colour is usually carried right along the rachis, giving a nice constrast to the green leaflets. The huge fruits that contain the edible nut are 300mm/12" long and ripen from green to a golden yellow. Cocos nucifera is a very strong and robust palm, being tolerant of poor soil, drought and full sun from a relatively early age and very tolerant of wind and salt. It is, however, not tolerant of low temperatures and is unlikely to survive much below 2-3°C/36-37°F for any length of time, although a few have survived slightly lower. It's light requirements also make it a difficult palm to grow indoors. Growth rate is moderate to fast given adequate moisture, nutrition and sun.