Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family. It grows 10–25 m (33–82 ft) tall and 4–7 m (13–23 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
Plan Coconut palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Coconut palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 10–25 m (33–82 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–7 m (13–23 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 8 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 29–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: flesh, water, oil |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇮🇳 India, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇳🇬 Nigeria |
Is Coconut palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Coconut is non-toxic to people; large amounts of flesh or oil can upset pets.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Coconut palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
See Coconut palm in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Gardens by the Bay (2 plants)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (1 plants)
- Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens (11 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (1 plants)
- Thai tropical garden (6 plants)
Questions about Coconut palm
- How far apart should I plant Coconut palm?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–7 m (13–23 ft).
- Does Coconut palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Coconut palm need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Coconut palm?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Coconut palm flower?
- From about April for 29–52 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Coconut palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Coconut is non-toxic to people; large amounts of flesh or oil can upset pets.
- What grows well with Coconut palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Coconut palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Falling nuts are a hazard; frost-intolerant.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons
- Clustering fishtail palm Caryota mitis