Uses for Coconut Trees

The stately coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is best known for its curved silhouette, often seen framing sunsets or white sandy beaches. You may have even sipped coconut juice from a freshly cracked coconut fruit while on a tropical vacation. That is just one of many uses for this oversized, gently swaying plant.

The coconut tree is a tropical plant, and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b through 11. In the United States, that limits the range to Hawaii, parts of Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to the University of Florida IFAS, the coconut tree is considered invasive in south Florida and planting it is not advised. In central Florida, residents should use caution, and in the northern part of the state the species is not considered a problem. The latest assessment was done in 2011.

These trees can grow up to 30 feet tall and live for a century. The leaves, called fronds, sometimes reach 20 feet; they're bright green when they first emerge, and then darken. As the tree grows, the bottom fronds fall off, leaving a grayish trunk behind. The frond scars make it easier to climb the otherwise smooth trunk to harvest the coconut fruits, which are clustered just under the fronds. That long trunk is also flexible, bending in the wind.

The coconut fruit is head-sized, but its relative lightness allows it to float. Weighing up to 4 pounds, this well protected seed is nourished by both liquid coconut milk and coconut meat. This trait allows the coconut palm to populate remote islands in the South Pacific just by its fruit riding the waves. Once the fruit makes landfall, it germinates. Three germinating pores are on one side of the fruit. The covering is thinner, making it easier for the young plant to emerge and root itself in sand or soil.

If you live in an area that supports coconut growth, the University of Hawaii in Manoa suggests you find a nut that sloshes when you shake it. That means there is adequate food for the embryonic tree. Soaking it in water for two or three days softens the outside, mimicking what is naturally done by the ocean. If you plant the tree in a container, it will only reach about 5 feet in height and last about five years. Plant it in potting soil with the pointy end down, and only cover two-thirds of the nut. Water frequently, but make sure the container drains well. Planting it in your yard requires a spot with partial shade and well-drained soil. The nut planted in the yard should be left on its side, with the top third left uncovered. Water it at least twice a week. In both scenarios, germination takes between three and six months. The first flowers show up in about five years. Once the coconut tree starts producing, it will bear roughly 50 nuts each year.

Once you harvest your coconuts you can drink the juice and/or eat the meat. Green coconuts, which must be picked, are best for juice drinking. The coconut meat is softer, almost jelly like. Mature nuts with the brown husks have less juice, and the coconut meat is dryer, good for shredding and using in cakes, pies and savory dishes. In Hawaii, a coconut pudding called haupia is made using the juice and the finely ground up meat. It's a semi-soft white pudding that jiggles like gelatin.

The coconut fronds are so large they are often used to thatch roofs. The individual "leaves" that fan out from the center line can be stripped off and used to make hats, baskets, mats, cords and even temporary containers for food and other items. The coconut milk and meat are also used to make soaps and creams. The one use that requires a minimum of effort is the shade factor. Just move your lounge chair into position and enjoy.