Cocos nucifera
Coconut palm, Cocotero
- Height × spread
- 25m × 12m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
The glorious coconut palm that can tower to 25 metres in tropical areas, delighting with its waving, glistening palm fronds and stately habit. Grown in a container it is unlikely to exceed a height of 2 metres. It is very unlikely to flower under domestic conditions but its inflorescence is compact with slender arching stems carrying creamy yellow flowers, often largely submerged by the palm fronds. The coconuts are another matter entirely, and could represent a health hazard if falling. These make exacting houseplants as they require full sunshine, a minimum temperature of 18C and well drained soil that is sandy and enriched with potash and lime. They should be watered using soft water. These plants resent disturbance and should only be repotted when absolutely necessary.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 25m
- Spread
- 12m
- Height in 10 years
- 2m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.5m
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 18C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Summer · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food
Use a balanced house plant feed that has been diluted so it is half strength. Feed the plant monthly with this from May until August.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with high potash feed
Feed fortnightly when in growth using a high potash house plant fertiliser.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), choose one where potassium has a high value
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water when compost is dry
Allow the compost to become virtually dry before watering while in growth.
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Mist the plant daily
Soft or rain water is preferred as it doesn't mark the foliage. Don't mist when the plant is in sunshine or the foliage could be scorched.
Mist the plant daily.
Spring · Outdoors
Add lime to soil
This plant prefers lime in soil. Where soil is neutral or only just alkaline, give a lime dressing in spring, applied as per rates on the packet.
Spring-Summer · Outdoors
Feed with houseplant food
Use a balanced house plant feed that has been diluted so it is half strength. Feed the plant monthly with this from May until August.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed with high potash feed several times
Apply a fertiliser that is high in potash (potassium) several times while the plant is in flower.
Where fertiliser values are listed on a packet they are in order - nitrogen, phosphate, potassium with percentage values of each. For high potash choose a fertiliser where potassium is higher.
Spring · Planting
Repot occasionally
Repot occasionally if grown in a container. Move it to a slightly larger pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Shake off some of the old compost, but don't disturb the roots too much.
Make sure the roots are spread out and that the plant is sitting on compost and not an air pocket. Firm the soil gently, and ensure that the plant sits at the same level above the soil as it did previously.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Remove dead leaves
When leaves die they can carefully be detached or cut off at their base to improve the overall appearance of the plant. Be careful not to damage the main stems during this process.
Planting & general
Indoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Indoors
Feed with lime
You can put crumbled chalk on the soil surface and water through that, or you can enrich the compost with handful of lime when repotting.
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost + sand for repotting
Use a standard loam based compost that is not modified to make it 'moisture retentive'.
Alternatively prepare your own mixture using a loam based compost (John Innes no. 2 or 3) with a handful or two of horticultural sand to make the soil more free-draining.
Indoor temperature · Planting
18C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 18 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).