Bloomipedia
Coffee (Coffea arabica)
Photo: Damien Wallace via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Coffee

Coffea arabica

Coffee (Coffea arabica) is a shrub or small tree in the Rubiaceae family.

Not native to Hawaii

Coffee is a flowering plant.

1states where USDA records it
520HI sightings*
535U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

Coffea arabica, also known as the Arabica coffee, is a species of flowering plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. It is believed to be the first species of coffee to have been cultivated and is the dominant cultivar, representing about 60% of global production. Coffee produced from the less acidic, more bitter, and more highly caffeinated robusta bean makes up most of the remaining coffee production.

  • It belongs to the Rubiaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to Hawaii. NatureServe
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 15 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 520 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #92 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4 records)

There are only a handful of Hawaii flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
Hawaii
Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. HAR 13-107
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Fruits are edible, but seeds are what are usually dried, roasted and ground to make coffee. Coffee, of course, contains caffeine.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records coffee in 1 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Hawaii.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Coffee a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to 17 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
4.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
17 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
365
Annual precipitation range
60 to 100 inches
Minimum root depth
40 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
High
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Year Round
Fruit or seed
Red · Spring to Fall
Can be propagated by
container, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for COAR2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Puerto Rico: Introduced; U.S. Virgin Islands: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 15 counties across 2 states; the most are in Palau (11), Hawaii (4).

More from the Rubiaceae family (18 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Field madder, Largeflower Mexican clover, Buttonweed, Tiny bluet, Shiny-leaved wild coffee.

More Hawaii flowers

'aiakanene (Coprosma ernodeoides)

'aiakanene

Coprosma ernodeoides

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in HI
Manono (Kadua affinis)

Manono

Kadua affinis

🌼 Blooms in HI: February–May
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Hawaii gardens

Sources