Coconut trees have relatively long lifespans, can grow quite tall, and provide so much more than the coconuts that we know and love them for. If you have been pondering growing a new tree, this might be the one for you! What exactly will your timeline look like, though? What should you expect?
It takes coconut trees 6-10 years to bear their fruit, the coconut, but 15-20 years to reach peak production. If you plant your tree from a seed, it may take 10 years to see fruit, versus if you plant an already-growing sapling, in which case you might see fruit after just 6 years.
We’ll dive deeper into all of that, but let’s first walk through the timeline itself so that you know what to expect when it comes to growing a coconut palm tree. We’ll cover some tips on growth, maintenance, and locations, as well. So, follow along to find out all of the basics you should know in order to grow.
What is a Coconut?
The coconut is an edible drupe that comes from a coconut tree, and is the only living species of the genus cocos.
You’ll expect to see a hairy-looking brown exterior, with white coconut “meat” on the inside, along with a milky coconut water in the very middle. Coconuts are extremely vitamin-heavy, and their water is rich with electrolytes that are relied upon by people in the tropical environments they come from.
According to the University of Florida, the coconut is the most extensively used and grown nut in the entire world. That says a lot about the benefits and uses that a coconut has. It’s also another reason that you may want to grow a coconut palm tree of your own.
What is a Drupe?
According to the Library of Congress, a coconut is a fibrous, one-seeded drupe. Wait a minute…what does that mean, though?
Well, if we loosely define a coconut, it falls under a seed, a nut, and a fruit. So, in order to classify this edible item as accurately as possible, a drupe is the term that best fits. It is defined as a fruit with a hard stony covering, which encloses the seed.
There are three parts to a drupe: the endocarp, the mesocarp, and the exocarp. The endocarp is the hard, woody layer that surrounds the seed. The mesocarp is the middle part, and the exocarp is the very outermost layer.
Coconuts are clearly well-loved and often used, growing in many locations all around the globe. Where can you expect to see them grow in the United States, exactly?
Where Do Coconuts Grow?
Coconut palm trees tend to only grow in tropical regions, between 25 degrees north to 25 degrees south in latitude. This means that you’ll see them popping up in places like Hawaii and Florida in the United States, as well as much of northern Mexico.
Coconut palms grow all over the world, though. From Asia to Africa, and Europe to South America, these trees are widespread!
Indonesia, India, and the Philippines have the highest concentration of coconut palms in the world, thanks to their location on the globe and the tropical environment they can provide. In the United States, you’ll expect to see these trees grow primarily in areas with USDA Hardiness Zones of 10a-11b.
Though coconut palms primarily grow in Florida and Hawaii, there are select regions in Texas and southern California that can also sustain this tree.
Here are some of the most common places where coconut trees grow.
How Quickly Does A Coconut Palm Tree Grow?
It will take your coconut tree some time to fully mature, but we can use certain milestones to help track that growth and the aging process as a whole. Part of this growth rate will change, based on whether you start from a seed or choose to propagate from a more established sapling.
A coconut tree will take 6-10 years to begin producing coconuts, and you’ll find that a sapling will, of course, get your coconuts faster than a tree that you grow from the very beginning. A tree planted from the seed will take closer to 10 years to begin producing this drupe for you.
When you plant from a sapling, the tree has already been established, and has grown for part of its life. Most coconut palms are not propagated as cuttings from a tree, but begin from the seed itself.
How Long Does It Take To Grow A Coconut Palm Tree? Full Timeline
By now, you may have decided whether a coconut palm sounds like the right fit for you. Let’s say that you want to grow one, and are wondering what to expect next. What steps do you take to navigate this process, and where should you be located?
As the climate is tropical, and matches the needs of your coconut palm, it should be very easy to grow your own tree. You’ll want to consider the soil, climate, and your maintenance practices above all else.
These beautiful, versatile trees will do just fine when given the proper time and attention. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the timeline you can expect to follow while growing a coconut palm!
Day 1: Finding The Right Coconut Seed (or Sapling)
To start off, the very first day will be as you decide whether to plant from a seed or from an already-growing sapling. This decision is fully up to you, based on what you want from your tree-growing experience.
If you decide to begin with a seed, you just need a full coconut with the husk still on, and a few days to spare before planting begins. This will allow you time to soak the coconut before planting, making it ready to sprout underneath the soil!
Let’s walk through the steps to plant a coconut palm, from the seed.
Steps for Planting a Coconut Seed:
- Make sure that you have a coconut with the husk still on, and water inside. (Shake it to hear that it still makes a sloshing sound.)
- Soak your coconut in water for about 3 days
- Fill a 12-inch container with potting soil. A mixture of soil and sand is ideal.
- Place your coconut in the soil. The pointy side should face downwards. Keep the top ⅓ of your coconut uncovered.
- Keep the container in a well-lit area of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Water frequently. A well-draining soil will help you keep from overdoing this step!
This is just the initial step because you’ll want to make sure to transplant your coconut palm into the ground outside in order to get coconuts from the tree.
Day 1 – Day 90: Planting a Coconut Seed in May-June
Eventually, as your coconut gets established in the soil and begins to sprout and form into a seedling, you’ll want to plant it outdoors. It is best to begin with the controlled environment of a container filled with potting soil, but this is not a sustainable growing method for long.
A coconut palm tree left to grow in a container will have a short lifespan and will not have the means to produce coconuts, sadly. So, transplanting your little coconut tree is key!
According to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the months of May to June are best when it comes to planting a coconut seed. This will give your seedling the most time to establish itself before the next winter comes around.
Where to Plant your Coconut Seed
Coconut palms prefer soil that is a mixture of regular soil and sand when they are in a pot. This mimics the environment they seek in nature, where the soil is moist, loamy, and well-drained. In fact, this is a key soil characteristic for most tropical trees.
If you are located in the United States and are hoping to find the best region to plant coconut trees, or want to check if your region is suitable, you should reference the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map.
Coconut palm trees prefer to grow in the USDA hardiness zones 10-11.
What Exactly is a USDA Plant Hardiness (or Growing) Zone?
The USDA created a map for people who want to see which plants best grow where within the United States. They defined hardiness, or growing, zones across the country that refer to the average extreme minimum temperature an area can have while not jeopardizing the success of the tree itself.
Since coconut palms fall into the higher range, they are less hardy and prefer very warm temperatures, even in the winter.
All USDA hardiness zones are defined by a range of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Those zones are then further broken down into the letters A and B, as a way to split the 10-degree temperature range in half. A represents the lower 5 degrees of the range while B refers to the higher 5 degrees.
Now, keep in mind that just because a tree physically can handle certain extremely low temperatures, they are extremes for a reason. You should not look at temperatures associated with the growing zones and expect that your tree will generally thrive in those temperatures. The growing zones are a great parameter to follow but should be used carefully.
The Early Months – Year 1: Watching your Coconut Tree Grow
This first year or so is going to be a pretty vulnerable stage in your tree’s life. Watch for any potential lulls in progress, as this step is a delicate one. If you’ve chosen to start with a sapling, you will avoid this entire stage.
Regardless of how you plant your tree, there is always a risk during the first few years of life. Your tree is young and not yet fully established in its environment, so it is more susceptible to things like weather damage. You might want to determine this, though, when deciding whether to start with a seed or a slightly more established sapling.
We do recommend beginning your planting process in a container before later moving the coconut sapling to the ground outdoors. You’ll want to help establish the plant before letting it into the world. If your sapling is large enough or old enough, you may be able to bypass this, too.
Year 2 – Year 5: Focusing on Sustaining a Healthy Tree
Now, you’ll be able to focus only on a sapling. No matter if you planted from a seed or a sapling, years 2-5 mean that your tree will fall into this stage of life. So, we’ll begin to only refer to your tree as a sapling in this section and, later, we will be able to talk about your tree as a mature organism.
You’ll see some changes in growth when you transplant your tree from a pot to the ground. This is totally normal and should be expected. After all, your tree is going from a controlled space to somewhere that has many environmental factors to get accustomed to.
Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Growth
Indoors, you will see the opportunity to create a climate-controlled experience for your young tree. From a seedling to a sapling, indoor growth can be used to help sustain your tree at its most vulnerable, during the early stage of life.
Outdoors, more elements are out of your control, such as the temperature and availability of moisture in the air. The sunlight might not hit your tree the way you’d expected, throwing it into the shade more often, or you might see that your tree is getting lots more sun.
It may take your young tree some time to acclimate from the extremely controlled climate that you can provide inside, but it will eventually be better for it. If your area falls under the ideal growing zone, 10-11 for this tree, you should be just fine. You’ll just want to prepare for some slowed progress as your tree adapts to its new home.
How to Transplant your Coconut Tree Sapling
It should not be a complicated process to transplant your coconut palm, but there are a few things that you might want to consider if you want your tree to have the best success.
You should follow these tips to make sure that you correctly transplant your coconut palm:
- Choose the right location! Your tree should get lots of even, direct sunlight and access to well-drained, sandy soil.
- While coconut palms can do well in any well-drained soil, they prefer soil with a pH between 5.0 and 8.0.
- Water, prune, and fertilize your tree in order to help it adjust to its new growing location.
If you’re planting more than one coconut tree, be mindful of how much space the mature trees will need. Here’s how far apart you should plant coconut trees.
Year 6 – Year 10: Initial Coconut Production Begins
Once you reach the stage of maturity where your tree is stationary and producing fruit, things should be simple and straightforward. Years 6-10 will see your coconut tree getting to this point of ease and prosperity.
A tree that you began from seed might still be directing most of its energy toward growing taller, stronger, and wider. A tree that you bought as a sapling will be producing coconuts as it continues to grow.
Now, don’t expect to get the best coconuts during this period, nor the largest quantity of them. Coconuts will get better over time, but this is the first initial period that you’ll see coconuts produced.
Year 15 – Year 20: Peak Coconut Production Begins
Even though coconut production begins during years 6-10, it doesn’t really take off until years 15-20, once the tree is fully established. At this point in the tree’s maturing process, it will be tall, steady, and able to produce more coconuts overall.
During this phase especially, you’ll want to keep your focus on maintaining the health of the tree, so that it can direct the majority of its energy toward growth and progress.
No matter when or how you planted your tree, this will be the point where you see the most production. So, coconuts certainly don’t appear overnight when you plant a tree. It’s a long game, to get plentiful and delicious drupes like this.
Year 21 – Year 50 (and Beyond): A Mature Coconut Tree Produces Fruit
Coconut trees will likely produce fruit until the tree is about 50 years old, give or take. Of course, the exact timing will depend on the tree, its environment, and the resources it is given to succeed.
One way to give your coconut tree an extra boost so that it can produce more fruit, for longer? Fertilize! Keep in mind that overfertilizing can lead to a lack in production that is similar to under-fertilizing, so we recommend asking an expert about the amount you should use.
As your tree ages, it will begin to decline in its fruit production and refocus on staying healthy and strong with age. At this point, you just need to focus on that general maintenance (if you are even still the owner of the tree by that point, decades later.)
Is It Better To Grow a Coconut Tree From a Seedling or Sapling?
How you plant your coconut palm tree truly depends on personal preference, as it relates to how you want to see your tree progress, and how quickly you hope to see coconuts produced. Both paths have their positives and negatives, and there may be environmental or personal factors to consider.
When it comes down to it, both growing styles have their place, just like keeping your sapling indoors versus outdoors during its potted stage.
If you are unsure of which direction you’d like to go in, we recommend talking to someone at your local nursery. They’ll have the context of your environment and are trained professionals that know how to help you make the best decision for your space.
Can Coconut Palms Be Grown Solely in Pots?
In short, yes but no. Coconut palms can be grown in pots but will have a drastically different lifespan and style of growth than coconut palms that are transplanted to grow outdoors.
Coconut trees grown in pots will not live nearly as long as those allowed to grow outdoors, where they are meant to grow. While some trees do well indoors and outdoors, this is a tree that thrives outside.
Coconut palms grown in pots will also fail to produce fruit, leaving you with no coconuts to show for your work. The conditions and resources of a pot, indoors or outdoors, are not ideal for producing coconuts.
Sustaining your Coconut Tree
Coconut palms do their very best in tropical climates, where they can have access to even, direct sunlight to help them grow. Make sure that your area is right for a coconut palm by doing your research on the USDA hardiness zones, or contacting a local professional directly.
If you have to, you could always start growing your coconut tree in its container in an area that is slightly less suitable, but transplant it in the appropriate location when the time comes. Pay attention to things like how well-drained your soil is, because coconut palm trees need a mixture of soil and sand to thrive.
Pruning
If you want to sustain a fuller appearance and keep dead leaves from taking energy from your tree, you should prune it every once in a while. You can use shears like the gonicc 8” Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears.
Fertilizing
If your goal is to not only sustain the leaves of your tree, but the entire tree and its production, fertilizer is going to be your best friend. You’ll want to look for one that is slow releasing, comes in granular form, and has an NPK of 2-1-1.
Wait a second. What is an NPK? We are glad you asked! This stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and helps us to easily identify the ratio of these 3 key compounds in a given fertilizer. So, your coconut palm wants a fertilizer that is more nitrogen-heavy, like this Eden 100% Neem Organic Plant Fertilizer.
Combining practices like watering, pruning, and fertilization is the best way to ensure that your tree is thriving at all times.
It’s Time to Go? That’s (Coco)nuts!
Time to wrap up! We hope that this timeline helped you to feel more confident in your endeavor to grow your own coconut palm tree. You can do it!
To refresh, the timeline looks a little something like this:
- Day 1
- Pick your coconut seed or sapling
- Year 1
- Plant your coconut palm tree and watch it grow
- Years 2-5
- Sustain the early growth of your coconut tree
- Years 6-10
- Coconut production begins
- Years 11-20
- Peak coconut production
- Years 21-50 (and Beyond)
- Your coconut tree is mature, bears fruit, and needs to be maintained
This process is a fun and exciting one, regardless of how your tree’s life began: from a coconut in your living room to a sapling that you get at the store, it’s all the same, in the end. Well, as long as you let the tree be planted outdoors in a tropical area with enough light, that is.
Cheers to you and your continuing tree journey! Remember, we are always here to offer support and guidance. It’s not always easy, but we are thankful to be a part of your process.
Until next time, friends!
References
Huang, Y. S., Chen, S. S., Lin, T. P., & Chen, Y. S. (2002). Growth strain in coconut palm trees. Tree physiology, 22(4), 261-266.
Kuo-Huang, L. L., Huang, Y. S., Chen, S. S., & Huang, Y. R. (2004). Growth stresses and related anatomical characteristics in coconut palm trees. IAWA journal, 25(3), 297-310.
Persley, G. J. (1992). Replanting the tree of life: towards an international agenda for coconut palm research. CAB International.
