Growth

• Coconut trees are palms featuring a single trunk. They mature to a height of 20 to 50 feet when cultivated, and up to 100 feet when used for an ornamental landscape tree. This palm is topped with about 30 pinnate leaves that measure up to 20 feet long. As new leaves form, old leaves die and fall to the ground. On average, each leaf lives for three years.
  
  

Climate

• Coconut trees are a tropical palm that thrive in areas with an average temperature between 70 and 80 degrees F. Coconut palms require 40 to 60 inches of water annually and a location below 1000 feet in elevation to maintain palm health. Promote healthy growth by planting coconut trees in soils with a pH of 5.0 to 8.0. To allow for root spread, coconut palms should be spaced 25 feet apart.
  
  

Fruit

• The fruit produced by the coconut tree is a drupe, commonly called a coconut. Each oval drupe matures to a length of 15 inches and a width of 12 inches. This drupe contains a mesocarp, endocarp, and exocarp. The exocarp of the coconut palm is a bronze or gold color that turns brown at maturity. Inside the exocarp is the endocarp, which is dark brown in color and fibrous on the outside. This endocarp contains the seed of the plant, the water or "milk" of the coconut, and the meat or "copra" of the fruit.
  
  

Production

• According to experts at the University of Georgia, as of 2002, "Coconuts are produced in 92 countries worldwide on about 26 million acres." This quantity of production results in 118 billion pounds of coconuts. The top producers of coconuts, in order of production, are the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Within the United States, coconut trees are planted for ornamental use, not for coconut production.
  
  

Uses

• Fruit is harvested from the coconut tree for a variety of uses. The dried meat of the coconut (copra) is commonly used in cakes and candies. The fibers found on the husk of the fruit are used for making rope, matting, fuel and potting mixes. The water from the inside of the coconut is great for drinking and used in many nutritious beverages. According to the University of Georgia, more coconut oil was produced in 2002 than olive oil. After the oil is taken from the coconut, the remaining residue is used as feed for livestock.