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What Is the Life Span of a Coconut Tree?
What Is the Life Span of a Coconut Tree?. Coconut trees (Cocos nucifera) are the most important type of palm trees in the world, according to the University of Florida's Extension website. The trees are extremely useful, from the fronds to the coconuts themselves, and they are also highly ornamental. Coconut trees grow rapidly once established, and...
Coconut trees (Cocos nucifera) are the most important type of palm trees in the world, according to the University of Florida's Extension website. The trees are extremely useful, from the fronds to the coconuts themselves, and they are also highly ornamental. Coconut trees grow rapidly once established, and can live to be 100 years old.
Life Span
Coconut palms start life as a cluster of leaves. After about five years, the trunk forms, and the first flowers and coconuts are produced. Fruit production increases as the tree matures, peaking at between 20-40 years of age, at which point a healthy tree will produce 50 to 200 coconuts per year, depending on the cultivar. After that, the amount of coconuts produced by a single palm tree gradually diminishes, dropping off entirely around age 70. Barring diseases or other health concerns, the tree may live to see 100 years or more.
Size
Coconut trees grow quite large during their life span. They reach an average height of 60 feet, with an average canopy width of 25 feet. Some cultivars have gently curving trunks, while others are ramrod straight. Some of the straight cultivars can reach heights of 100 feet or more. The fronds may reach 18 feet in length, and the coconuts average 6 to 12 inches in diameter, depending on the cultivar.
Culture
Coconut trees that are cared for properly live the longest. These tropical plants thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zones 10B through 11 -- anywhere else is simply too cold for them, although other palms are much more cold-hardy. Coconut palms need full sun for maximum fruit production, and can tolerate salty, sandy soils. They are drought tolerant but prone to a number of diseases that can decrease their life span.
Problems
Coconut palms need to be fertilized and can suffer greatly from nutrient deficiencies. Potassium (K) deficiency is the most common and is signified by yellow or orange spotting of the leaves. Fertilizer spikes or broadcast fertilizer made for coconut palms will solve this problem. Diseases also often cut short the life of coconut palms trees. A disease called Lethal Yellowing is the most serious, as it is fatal and spreads rapidly. Caused by a microscopic phytoplasma transmitted by leafhoppers, infected trees drop coconuts prematurely and die within six months. Antibiotic injections every four months may keep the tree alive in some cases.
