Strong coffee

Rubiaceae

At the Botanic Garden, the coffee family (Rubiaceae) has been studied for more than 100 years. Seeds and young plants were collected during expeditions all around the world. 

With more than 300 different species, our collection is one of the most extensive living Rubiaceae collections worldwide. Fresh leaf material, wood, flowers, and fruits are continuously sampled for scientific research. 

The genus coffee itself (Coffea) has about 100 wild species. They are native to tropical Africa and Madagascar. One third of these species are represented in the collections of the Botanic Garden. We have a large number of wild plants of the species Coffea arabica and its closely related species. These are essential for the development of future-proof varieties. 

Besides Coffea, Psychotria and many other woody Rubiaceae are also represented in the collection of Meise Botanic Garden. You will find them in the greenhouses of the Tropical Rainforest, Tropical Wetlands, Monsoon, and Savannah; the research collection is not open to the public.