Rain Forest Gardener

Glad to see you return. Please feel free to add comments or questions. I am always an email away.

Scientific Name: Cola nitida. Common name: ‘Cola Nut’, Kola, Guru Nut. This is real collector’s item; a rare and unusual West African tree that produces the Cola Nuts which were one of the original ingredients of Coco cola.
From Cola nitida

It is an medium sized evergreen tree that can reach a height of 20 to 25 meters. The flowers are greenish-yellow or white and purple at the margins of the petals. Easy to grow from seeds and makes an excellent container plant that is easily cared for. but there are some advances in its popularity as a conversation piece. It is certainly a “gem” for collectors and carries some medicinal weight at this point.

From Cola nitida

Native to the tropical forests of West Africa, from Liberia to Ghana.

Life form: long-lived forest tree.

Parts used: seeds (termed nuts), chewed as a stimulant.

It is the most consumed of the cola species.

Seeds usually require 85 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate. Soaking seeds for 24 hours will increase germination success.

Seedlings growing out of fallen seeds.
From Cola nitida

The Cola nitida usually requires about 7 years to produce seed pods. Trees will live 75- 100 years.

Tropical plant so you need to be at least in Zone 10 or higher as a full time outside plant. Otherwise plant in a container and move inside during the winter.

Very hardy plant but will die in cold temperatures. Best to bring inside when temperatures reach below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Licuala grandis is an attractive tropical understory palm that has become popular as both a house plant and landscape ornamental in warmer regions. It is an understory palm in that it sits under the rain forests vast canopy of large trees. The jungle protects it from the sun and the wind.

The unique form of its round pleated fronds makes it a stand out plant in any environment. This palm is easy to start from seeds and is easy to grow.

It requires little maintenance but does need protection against frost, that can damage the foliage. It can be slow growing but is happy in interior low light situations and in moist shady areas outside.

For best results keep the plant above in weather no lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Can be outside in Zones 10 and 11 with minimum winter temperatures over 3 degrees Celsius.

It requires a fertile soil, well drained soil.

For year round outside gardening Hawaii and the Southern tip of Florida in the USA will do the trick, If you are in other areas of the USA simply grow in a container as a houseplant. Move it in a shaded and protected area outside for the summer and move in when temperatures get lower.

From 6-20-09

Shown here in containers.

The Sun and wind can danger fan leaves….

From 6-20-09

Direct sunlight will turn the leaves brown. Excessive wind will fray the leaves.

Seeds from the Licuala grandis.

From 6-20-09

Here is a slide show of some of our Licuala grandis in our seed farm. We can supply small amounts to over 10,000 Licuala grandis seeds at a time.

The seeds take time to germinate. Several months to a year for seedlings to grow.

Need to know this one too.

We keep finding Bromeliads. Attemting to find the names of a few. We are in Belize.

My father got theses Cactus cuttings about 6 years ago. He does not remember the name. On the slideshow there are photos of the flower and the fruit.

We Live in Central America.

Free seeds to the first person to identify it.

Need your help on this one.
Post here or on the comment section.

This is one of our online stores.

We are adding items every week.

This is my Rain Forrest garden. Well a small part of it…

From rainforrest