Wild coffee

Psychotria nervosa Sw.

Family: Rubiaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

n/a

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

The sources we use do not describe a hazard to people.

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

ASPCA has no Psychotria page. Do not treat as pet-safe.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Other plants with a similar name or look. To tell them apart: Match on the scientific name, Psychotria nervosa Sw., not on the common name.. ASPCA has no page titled "Wild Coffee". Its pages "Coffee Tree" and "Geranium-Leaf Aralia" are for Polyscias guilfoylei, a different, toxic plant, and they list Wild Coffee as an alternate name. They are not Psychotria nervosa. Never match this guide to those pages by name.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 9-11 per UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions; very cold tender north of zone 9, needs protection in a frost or freeze
Light: Partial to full shade per UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions.
Water needs: moderate moderate is a plain-language reading of UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: moderately drought tolerant and moderately salt tolerant; needs well-drained soil. Always finger-test two inches down.
Mature size: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: 4-10 ft tall and 4-8 ft wide; leaves about 6 in. long

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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