Florida is home to four species of “wild coffee”, three of which we have seen on Chapter visits to members’ yards. The Bahama coffee (Psychotria ligustrifolia) pictured above and below in the yard of Fran Robinson generated lots of interest. The natural range of Bahama wild coffee is Monroe and Miami-Dade counties.
It tends to remain smaller than wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa) and shortleaf wild coffee (Psychotria tenuifolia) which are native to Indian River County. You can see its natural round shape of a young plant in the yard of Terry Greene in August of 2019 …
Flowers of all of the wild coffees are white, and the fruits red when ripe.
Check out “plain” wild coffee in the yard of Carol Thomas …
This wild coffee has crinkly leaves. The species name nervosa refers to this deep venation (nerves) on the leaves.
Shortleaf wild coffee (Psychotria tenuifolia) is sometimes called soft-leaved wild coffee, and its requires more moisture and organic matter. Lots of it grows at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area …
Eugenia Chapter - Florida Native Plant Society 