Coconut Palm Tree (Cocos nucifera)

The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) is a hallmark of tropical regions, famed for its towering, slender trunk that reaches up to 100 feet. Known as the "Tree of Life," its smooth trunk is topped with a crown of 20 to 30 large, feather-like green leaves, each up to 20 feet long.

This palm is dioecious, producing small, yellow male flowers and larger, clustered female flowers. It yields the well-known coconut, a large drupe that can weigh over 4.4 lbs. The coconut has a thick husk and a hard shell enclosing edible white flesh and refreshing water.

Thriving in sandy soils and tolerant of salinity, the Coconut Palm is cultivated worldwide for its versatile products, including coconut oil from the flesh and coir from the husk. It's valued not only for its economic importance but also for its role in coastal ecosystems, providing wildlife habitat and erosion protection.

Growing a coconut is effortless in any subtropical-tropical climate where it’s humid, hot, and sunny. Cocos nucifera needs little in the way of care. Just like the laziest of beach bums, a coconut palm simply wants for long days in the sun.