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Plants

tall coconut

Cocos nucifera L.

Family: Arecaceae · Genus: Cocos

west african tall, giant coconut

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

Tall variety — emergent (20–30 m), 60–70 year lifespan, first flowering at 5–7 years. 60–80 large fruits per plant per year for copra, oil, and fiber. Rustic, fast-growing, with a long vegetative phase. In syntropic systems plays the true emergent role on Brazilian coastlines.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Cocos nucifera 'Tall', Cocos nucifera 'West African Tall'

Götsch succession

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

Environment

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

Morphology

Mature height
20–30 m
Recommended spacing
8–10 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
60–80 years
Time to first harvest
72 months
Productive lifespan
60 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Tall coconut takes the Emergent 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 · ≈30 m High Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Spacing 9×9 m triangular. Good drought and salt tolerance. Cross-pollinating — plant several individuals.

📅 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 tall coconut?

The first harvest of tall coconut comes around 72 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for tall coconut?

The recommended spacing for tall coconut is 8–10 m.

How tall does tall coconut grow?

At maturity, tall coconut reaches 20–30 m tall.

When does tall coconut fruit?

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

When does tall coconut flower?

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

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

In a syntropic system, tall coconut belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Oil seed Fiber Fuelwood

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Embrapa — Melhoramento genético do coco (height_min_m, height_max_m, lifespan_years_min, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  2. 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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