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green dwarf coconut

Cocos nucifera L.

Family: Arecaceae · Genus: Cocos

brazilian green dwarf

Secondary II High No biomass production
Douglas Goldman · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist

Green Dwarf cultivar — Brazil's commercial mainstay for coconut water. 8–12 m tall, 30–40 year economic life, first harvest at 2–3 years. Yields 150–200 fruits per plant per year — small fruits with premium water quality. Occupies the high stratum (not emergent) in syntropic systems, leaving room for taller palms above.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Cocos nucifera 'Anão Verde do Brasil', Cocos nucifera 'Brazilian Green Dwarf'

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary II
Ecological role
Late secondary
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Medium
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
High
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Soil pH range
5–8
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy
Hardiness zones
10–13

Morphology

Mature height
8–12 m
Recommended spacing
6–8 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
30–40 years
Time to first harvest
30 months
Productive lifespan
30 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Green dwarf coconut takes the High stratum in the Secondary II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High · ≈12 m Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Typical spacing 7.5×7.5 m triangular. Responds well to irrigation in NE Brazil. Tolerates salinity.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of green dwarf coconut?

The first harvest of green dwarf coconut comes around 30 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for green dwarf coconut?

The recommended spacing for green dwarf coconut is 6–8 m.

How tall does green dwarf coconut grow?

At maturity, green dwarf coconut reaches 8–12 m tall.

When does green dwarf coconut fruit?

Fruiting of green dwarf coconut occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

When does green dwarf coconut flower?

Flowering of green dwarf coconut occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does green dwarf coconut occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, green dwarf coconut belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the high stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Fiber

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros — O Coqueiro-anão no Brasil (height_min_m, height_max_m, time_to_first_harvest_months, productive_lifespan_years)
  2. Embrapa — Melhoramento genético do coco (primary_stratum)
  3. Species-level taxonomy: Cocos nucifera L. (GBIF Backbone / POWO / Flora e Funga do Brasil) (gbif_taxon_key, powo_id, tropicos_id, inaturalist_taxon_id, flora_do_brasil)

External references

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