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fragrantgrower

Coffee, anyone?

My most recent ridiculous plant purchase is this little coffee plant (Coffea arabica) I scored at HD in a 4 inch pot for 4 bucks. Kemistry has told me that they are supposed to have fragrant flowers at night. I've also read this in 'The Essence of Paradise' that coffee's scent is intensely floral and evocative. Hopefully I'll find out this summer (if it takes a while for a plant to flower I'll probably get rid of it).
All the plants looked pretty ratty with brown leaf tips but I figured I couldn't beat the price.
Just another fix to keep the fragrance addiction going through winter. ;)

-Robert

Comments (33)

  • greengirl2009
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Wow! Did not know that. Had a large plant that bloomed and I harvested the red berries. Removed outer coating and roasted the beans but did not go any farther with the process. Kept it outside or in greenhouse. Was not aware that it was fragrant. May have to try this again. Thanks for sharing.

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Greengirl,

    That's too bad you never sniffed the blooms at night. :(
    Do you know how large they have to be before they normally start blooming?

    -Robert

  • greengirl2009
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hi Robert,

    Not sure. Mine was about 5 ft when I lost it. But it have bloomed in previous seasons. ...and I never smelled the flower in the evening. Very disappointed with me! Sounds like I missed a nasal treat!

    Twyla

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks, Twyla.

    I just checked Logee's site and it says it normally takes 2-3 years for seedlings to come into bloom. I'm an impatient gardner so I'll probably give it away come fall! Laugh.

    -Robert

  • meyermike_1micha
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Robert, I am with you on that! I always feel like I don't have the time to wait around God forbid something happens to me. But then my family is always telling me to live one day at a time.

    By the way, try growing Cactus and Succulents that can take years to grow a 1/4 of an inch, let alone any fragrant flowers at all.lol

    You got your self a beautiful plant! You know, I have some of these in my back yard in Puerto Rico, and in all the years I have gone there, never smelled afrgarnce on them. Maybe I should of tried at night. That thought never occured to me since I am afraid to walk around in the dark there.

    Mike

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Mike!

    You people are killing me. You had them in your backyard but never thought to smell them at night? Still I can understand if your backyard wasn't fenced. :)

    So many fragrant plants...so little time.

    -Robert

  • greengirl2009
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Mike,
    Thanks for your comment! So glad I am not the only one who never thought to smell the coffee (flowers)! Those were much busier days! LOL

    Robert,
    Patience my friend (smile).

  • roseyd
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Robert, my dear - you have patience with Plumies - why can't it transfer to other plant types?

    seriously - I liked the description of roasting one's own coffee beans ... If I still drank caffeine - I'm one who likes the idea of taking those roasted beans and covering them in dark chocolate. Voila! a tasty treat with a kick. :)

    Yes, patience seems like a good thing. How could a gardener not have it? :)

  • greengirl2009
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Mike,
    Thanks for your comment! So glad I am not the only one who never thought to smell the coffee (flowers)! Those were much busier days! LOL

    Robert,
    Patience my friend (smile).

  • greengirl2009
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Did someone say plumeria? Would love to know which ones you recommend for fragrance & beauty. I recently contacted Laura for a list but would welcome your input. Just started with Plumeria late last summer so I am very excited to see them flower this year. Thanks much!

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hi Twyla!

    I went nuts last year with plumies.
    Here's the ones I have with scent notes gathered from various sources.

    1. California Sunset JJ Thailand seedling of Penang Peach Vibrant color; good fragrance; thick petals, 2-4" flower. With heat, color changes to more pink/orange/yellow 15-20' tall, 12-15', fragrant white and pale yellow flowers semi-compact grower and an incredible bloomer, with a wonderful buttery scent and large clusters. Apricot-peach, yellow-colored flower, pale pink splash band on one side of the petal, medium pink line on the edge of the petal, nice texture, sweet medium scents. Pronounced hook on leaf ends. Blooms every year all season long and scent is amazing. Do NOT prune more than every 3 years or plant will decline, per John. Peach and coconut suntan oil scent.

    2. Celadine #191 aka common cream, Common Yellow, Graveyard Yellow, Yellow, Huevos. The name Celadine came from Thailand. 3" yellow with white borders, strong suntan lotion, citrus fragrance, brilliant yellow w/broad white margin around petal; narrow petals, pointed tip, slightly overlapping, good texture; strong lemon fragrance; keeping quality very good. The common form of frangipani found in coastal areas, acuminate/pointed lime green leaves, medium sized white flowers with large yellow centre, lemon scented. Bright yellow, broad white margin and narrow petals, pointed tip, slightly overlapping. 3 1/2 inch blooms of good texture. Easy to grow and very vigorous. Most desirable plumeria for fragrance. The flowers are medium to large 3 1/2" and brilliant yellow, with a broad white margin around the firm textured petals. Strong lemon fragrance with very good keeping quality. Vigorous but compact grower. Thick branched and heavy blooms. The fragrance is somewhat like dish soap. Leaves are glossy green with a light red border and have a very rigid texture. The leaf margin is wider than in most plumeria. Hence it has a double ridge outline in the leaf. The leaf margin is wider than in most plumeria. Leaf petiole color is green with a hint of red. The fragrance is lemony. Good graft host. Lei quality over 11 days. One of the most floriferous. Cold Tolerant. 15 swap different variations have been reported in Hawaii.

    3. Chiang Mai Rainbow Thailand Deep pink to maroon-pink buds develop into star-shape of white and yellow with shades of pink and red-orange throat. 3" to 3.5" Petals slightly overlapping, sometimes 6 petals on one flower. Fragrance: strong and fresh spicy lemon fragrance described as "smelling like how a very sweet Lychi fruit tastes". Leaves: elliptical with pointed tip. One of the best intense fragrance varieties originating from Chiang Mai Province. Deep pink to maroon-pink buds that develop into visually stunning flowers of white and yellow, accented by shades of pink, and, brilliant burnt-orange throat which intensifies with heat and actually appears at its strongest when the flower is past a day old. 3.5" - 4". The petals slightly overlap and have a tendency to produce several 6 petaled flowers in each cluster on mature tree. Strong "spices and lemon" fragrance. Smells like Sandalwood?

    4. Daeng Maha Choke AKA Bangkok Fire, Orange Hybrid, P-33. 2.5" to 3" Intense orange-red to cherry-red, opening successively on full flower-heads. Petals: overlapping, non-symmetrical with slightly pointed tip. Glowing orange-red with some darker veining spreading from base. Coloring increasingly purplish with maturity and eventually fading to mauve, white and light brownish-yellow. Substance: good. Fragrance: Strong, unique and very pleasant. Sweet with a note of nutmeg. Leaves: Medium green, elliptical with pointed tip and non-conspicuous veining. Strong, conspicuous color and remarkably intense and unique fragrance of lemon and nutmeg.

    5. Dwarf Deciduous White aka Khao Bali. Bright 4-5" snow white with a small bright yellow center. Thick textured with a very strong citrus fragrance. Small well branched tree. Excellent container grower. A true dwarf to 2m. Huge flowers and exceptional frangipani perfume. Large white flowers with broad oval petals and golden center. 3". Larger that a Dwarf Singapore. This is a true dwarf, of compact habit and blooms from spring to fall. Compact grower, but not a true dwarf. Leaves are light green with a pubescent underside. Flowers have citrus fragrance and pale pink bands on reverse. Biggest flowers of all the dwarf frangipani flowers. 4" to 5" white with small yellow center and a heavenly sweet fragrance. The leaves are somewhat obtuse, like the Singapore, but light green, non-glossy and smaller. Large white flower with broad oval petals and a golden center. Very strong citrus scent. Notch on end of petal. Reported to be either extremely fragrant depending on the time of day, or not at all. Very large, white flowers with broad, oval petals, a golden center and an intense perfume. Nearly evergreen plant, its leaves drop briefly and reappear almost immediately. Fuzzy leaves.

    6. Gold Coast Peachy aka Seldom Seen. #323 Most desirable plumeria for fragrance - unique 3" pink with coconut fragrance. The colors get really intense and makes big bouquets, and that fragrance--my fav for scent. Extremely fragrant! This Aussie beauty was registered in 2006 by Brad's Buds and Blooms with the PSA as "Gold Coast Peachy". The 2.5-3" blooms are a sweet salmon pink with a brilliant orange heart. The flowers appear in large, tight bouquets and the inflorescences last for many weeks. The scent is like a combination of jasmine, coconuts, and a prominent note of cinnamon. To us this is the best plumeria for fragrance out of the many we have collected over the years. This is a compact grower. Highly recommended. Slender branches and bushy growth habit. She produces big, round poofy balls of blooms which have the very best of plumeria perfumes. Very strong and like jasmine, with a hint of rose, and some spicy, red-hot cinnamon candy thrown into the mix. The blooms are around 3" and make quite a show. Compact nature, but the intoxicating sweet blooms. It is definitely one of my Top 5 plumies!

    7. Inca Gold JJ There are two must-have yellows; Afrique is one, this is the other. Consistent early bloomer, semi-compact to medium growth and flowering habit Aztec Gold could only wish for. Scent: medium floral. Recommended for the coast. 3" Great scent like Celadine with jasmine undertone. Showy 3" bright yellow flowers adorn this medium sized tree with a very strong jasmine fragrance.

    8. Phet Pachara aka Pacharaporn Diamond 3" brownish-cream flowers with yellow shading over central area, covering about 50% of the whole surface. Petals overlapping and of heavy substance, uniquely shaped with greatest width near base. Keeping quality: very good. Fragrance: intense, sweet. Very unique plumeria with extraordinary coloration and twisted Leaves: narrow and long, medium green, elliptical with pointed tip, red margin and veins. 2" rounded and heavy brownish-cream and pink flowers. The textured blooms also contain yellow shading over central area, covering about 50% of the overlapping petals. They have an incredibly strong and perfume sweet fragrance. This beauty has the best fragrance I have smelled yet on any Thai plumie--intense, floral-jasmine scent. Absolutely heavenly!

    9. Scentsational JJ aka FW, Fragrant White, Scentsation. Large thick white blooms with strong spicy scent like Stargazer lilies.
    Heavy bloomers, compact growth, mine have the tendency to grow wide and out rather than straight up, fast growers, beautiful leaves, flowers stay fresh long after plucking, blooms are 4 to 4 1/2 inches in size, pure white with a yellow center and the smell, to my nose, is an extremely strong and sweet...gardenia scent. The most powerful scent of the forty trees I own. I can smell it several feet away. Very responsive to 'Spray N Grow'. This season it sprouted inflos in early February and both plants have blessed me with over a hundred blooms so far and it�s still flowering. To me Scentsational smells like jasmine. It's the only plumie that I have that I don't need to stick my nose in to be able to smell. At night when all my windows and patio door are open I can smell it all the way in my bedroom! Or if I'm sitting outside reading I can smell it too. LOVE! I can smell its flowers several feet away, not a tall grower.

    10. JJ Premium Yellow could possibly be Xanadu. Large clusters of 4" white /pink flowers. Growth habit: medium Scent: strong floral. Yellow/orange centers, outer petal white, rimmed with pink. Lovely perfume scent. 2"-3" blooms?

    11. 4222 (ordered from Florida Colors Nursery on 9/28/12, arrived 10/17/12) � #4222 from Thailand. This one is fascinating. It HAS to be a seedling of Pink Pansy--just has to be. The scent is identical to Magnum Opus too, that sort of gardenia plus something else I can't put my finger on... very fragrant. I put my last PP bloom next to the inflo for comparison. #4222 is much more ruffled and overlapped, and is starting to form tight bunches of flowers exactly like my Thai seller's picture. A true winner! I have to say next to my local variety "Cotton Candy" this plumie smells like sweet, sweet perfume. What a smell and she�s taken over the Green House with it. She reminds me why I go through all the hard work and research on these wonderful plants. This would make a great lei flower WOW! I will stand by my statements I made a few years ago this is one of the best smelling Plumerias out there hands down!!
    Her fragrance is a strong perfume smell which I really can't compare it to anything but a heavenly women�s perfume. Yes, the fragrance is out of this world. Yes 4222 has good fragrance, just brought it in for my wife to take a whiff and tell me what it smells like, and she says no fragrance right now in 98' heat . But in the morning or at night yes. Thailand slightly ruffled edged, 3" blooms of white rimmed in dark pink. 3" white flower with bright red edges. It forms wonderful, tight bunches. The fragrance is an intense, creamy sweet perfume. Medium growth.

    12. Pink Kiss JJ or Maui PG (same?): Huge clusters of delicate pink flowers to 3"
    Growth habit: medium -pink bloom that gradually fades to white. The center of
    each bloom is slightly yellow / orange. 3" with strong fragrance - almost heavy of
    Apricots, Sweet Olive. The parent tree is a prolific bloomer. Always the first
    plumeria to bloom in the spring. The scent is GREAT! Very similar to Celadine
    and if possible even stronger. The people there tell me it is also consistently one
    of their first bloomers in the spring which would explain why mine is blooming.
    Pink Kiss JJ recommended. Rivals Celadine for its citrusy 'frangipani' scent.
    A soft pink with an intense fragrance.

    Just a warning...once you go down the plumie path you may find yourself getting in deep like the rest of us! ;)
    Of course a good start would be good old Celadine.

    -Robert

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Rosey,

    Now I want some chocolate covered coffee beans! :)

    -Robert

  • olympia_gardener
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    OM, I can see why some one worried about Plumeria invasion!

    Regarding the scent of the coffee flower, I think Toni keeps a mature coffee plant. She might see this forum and chime in.

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Brad from Brad's Buds and Blooms (an excellent source for plumies) said the following about his favorite plumerias for fragrance-

    Hmm..that's a difficult one for me as I have so darn many. Typhoon is not in my Top 5, but it is definitely among my very fragrant ones. I would have to say the top 5 (so far) for me are: Singapore White, Bangkok Fire, Gold Coast Peach, Phet Pachara, and Betty Jean (a seedling I have not released yet--a 4" red, gold and orange flower that smells like really strong peaches and spice.).Trying to figure out the next 5 would be madness since there are so many I love. Thai Tornado and Typhoon are both very nice, Gee Petch also has a very sweet fragrance. Waimea has an excellent perfume--and so on....anyway, I would need to really get out in the grove and get better notes since I am winging this off the cuff from on-the-spot memory. LOL

  • meyermike_1micha
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Robert, you just had to! lol
    You make the sound of those plumeria like a fine delicous food! Now I feel like I am mssing out!
    Ok, how can I get some and do you worry about mites?
    I have a solution for that:-)
    I want one..lol

    By the way, walking about my 2 acre year infested with bats, black widows, tarantulas, lizards, frogs that stick to you, 6 inch centerpeeds, bugs that bite, and thick brush does scare me a bit..I thought I hearda gorilla last time I was there..ha
    I found a tarantula in my sneakers once just as I was about to put them on.

    Hello Olympia...Welcome back!

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ha! There are tons of good sources for plumies.
    I should tag team with Laura and we both can get everyone hooked on plumies! ;)
    And of course sometimes the mites go for my plumies. I spray with Neem but Laura just plucks off all her leaves and waits until spring when they can grow outside again. :)

    Your backyard sounds wild!
    I don't blame you for being scared.

    -Robert

  • roseyd
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I don't know if you'd have much luck, Robert, with getting me to be a Plumie addict - my windows aren't taller than 5 feet and I'd not be able to keep a "TREE" in my 3rd floor apartment.

    I'll live vicariously through the rest of you, though. Become Plumie addicts, and post pics. :)

    Mike, that's a pretty scary environment to grow coffee plants - I can completely understand not wanting to walk around after dark to sniff flowers with all those creepy crawlies out there with you! ... and, while I am a HUGE fan of bats (they just look so cute) - tarantulas - not so much. eek!

    If Toni was here reading that description - I can just imagine her response to the spiders.

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Don't worry, Rosey. There are plenty of fragrant house plants one can grow! ;)

    -Robert

  • fenius
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    nooooo, not yet plumeria season, don't do this to me!!
    Robert don't throw away the coffee plant.. Also, can you form a list with the plants in your fragrant book for inspiration or is it too much to ask?Maybe just your favourites?

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Oh, fenius...I can't believe I haven't tempted you to seek out the book yet! Laugh.
    I'll give you a teaser by snapping pics of the contents.
    I still suggest reading the book though! ;)

    -Robert

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Second page.

  • fenius
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I looked for it on ebay with no luck, haven't bought anything from amazon yet that's why I hesitate...now I need it though!

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yay! Glad I finally tempted you. Laugh.
    While you're on Amazon I also suggest The Evening Garden: Flowers and Fragrance from Dusk till Dawn by Peter Loewer. It is beautifully illustrated by the author and has great info on scented plants (though some plants he writes about are not scented). :)

    Here is a link that might be useful: The Evening Garden book

  • fenius
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I'm so happy!! I didn't get the book yet but I went to a secret nursery in the outskirts today with the guys from my greek plant forum and got a coffee plant too! It has around ten medium -around 25cm tall- seedlings in it.. I also got a radermachera, a noid gardenia, a creeping rosemary, another stephanotis, another blueberry, a rubus xanthocarpus(no idea what berry it is..) some climbing and some non climbing strawberries and all that for 25euro!!8-0

  • greengirl2009
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Robert,
    Thanks so much. Preparing for my journey...
    Fenius,
    I am smiling for you! I love it when that happens!

  • meyermike_1micha
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Fenius....Wow, good for you pal! I am about to go on a shopping spree too..lol. You should see how many Hoya's I have added to my collection within the past mnonth.lol

    Robert: How's the plant looking these days? Thanks for ths info on that book. Very thoughtful of you:-)
    Who would of thought there was that many night fragrant blooms?!
    Some of which I never thought to smell at night. I know why now certain plants didn't smell good by day.
    By the way, I remember standing in my neighbors driveway one night smelling the most intense sweetness I ever smelled.
    Do you know what I followed the scent to?
    A humungus Hoya! That triggered something in me that night.

    Greengirl..We are all with you on your journey! I hope it's a fun ride for you.

    Rosey..You are not kidding! I even have bukllfrogs there the size of cats. It is very easy to accidently step on one of them and take a good fall!
    The bats, I did not enjoy for sure.

    Getting ready for the Orchid Show? God knows we could use some sunshine and flowers in our lives lately, something that reminds us of spring!

    Mike:-)

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Fenius,

    That's awesome! I want to go to a secret nursery! Congratulations.

    Twyla,

    You're welcome! Let us know which varieties you decide on.

    Mike,

    I changed out its potting mix into a faster draining one. Seems to be doing fine. I've noticed other HD have them as well.
    Was your neighbor's giant hoya H. carnosa? I want pics! Laugh.

    -Robert

  • kemistry
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Everyone, if you need to buy a coffee plant, get it from Logee's because they are selling cuttings rooted from mature plants. I've noticed that all the coffee plants from HD or my local nurseries are seedlings which can take a while to flower. Coffee is related to gardenia so its flowers are fragrant. :o)

  • roseyd
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My concern is always how "big" will the plant become... I wouldn't mind so much if I could turn a plant into a bonsai - but, I don't think all plants like being kept small.

    I'm supposed to be taking a loggee's trip in March - I'm sure that it will be quite an adventure - but, I fear that it will be dangerous for my ever shrinking apartment.

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    While lurking in the plant section of Lowe's yesterday (yes, it's a sickness) I noticed larger, healthier Coffee seedlings for 5 bucks by Exotic Angel.
    I guess Coffee is becoming more common as a foliage plant.
    So for those willing to wait 2-3 years for blooms I'd go for the Exotic Angel ones. :)

    -Robert

  • roseyd
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I'm feeling like Logees can't be that far away now. I want me some plants...

    still not sure how I feel about having big plants indoors though.

    I probably would have been tempted to buy that coffee plant - 5$ and healthy... and knowing it'll flower.

    Robert, you find some really sweet deals.

  • Robert (zone 7a, Oklahoma)
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Go for hoyas! You can hang them in front of your windows! Try H. obscura or H. lacunosa or how about the hybrid 'Sunrise'?
    Okay...I know I've suggested this before. Laugh.

    -Robert

  • roseyd
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    yes, I've been hesitant to look at hoyas - because they don't sound pretty. They need better common names. who wants to buy a plant called "wax"? It doesn't sound delicate or feminine enough.

    but, yes, I've looked at a few hoyas online and the lacunosa is pretty. If I don't find it around town - I'm waiting for the season to warm so I can order one.

    yes, I know I'm wierd - but that just makes me special. :)

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