Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa Sw. [Rubiaceae]), softleaf wild coffee (Psychotria tenuifolia Sw.), and Bahama wild coffee (Psychotria ligustrifolia (Northrop) Millsp.) are evergreen shrubs with attractive foliage, fragrant white flowers, and colorful fruit. A cutting propagation study was conducted to determine the effects of auxin concentration on rooting of these 3 species, and a dwarf form, Psychotria nervosa ‘Little Psycho’. We treated semi-hardwood stem cuttings of each taxa with one of 3 talc indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations (0, 8000, and 16,000 mg/kg) and evaluated for rooting responses. Cuttings for all taxa rooted by 8 wk under mist. Root system quality values increased for P. nervosa ‘Little Psycho’ and P. tenuifolia with auxin application, while root system quality values for P. ligustrifolia and P. nervosa were similar among auxin treatments. Percentage of cuttings with roots was similar among taxa and increased with IBA at 8000 and 16,000 mg/kg compared to the control. Both root length and root number were influenced by auxin application, and the effects of auxin differed among taxa. Except for P. nervosa, all taxa treated with IBA produced roots that were longer than control cuttings. Auxin application increased root number compared to the control for P. ligustrifolia, P. nervosa, and P. nervosa ‘Little Psycho’. Psychotria tenuifolia had the greatest number of cuttings with 25 or more roots, but root number did not differ regardless of auxin concentration. Results confirm that native Florida Psychotria taxa are ideal candidates for vegetative propagation by semi-hardwood stem cuttings.

Drought and constrained municipal budgets are increasing demand for establishment practices that conserve water and labor. This study quantified trade-offs between inputs (water, labor, cost) and tree outcomes across irrigation methods and root-ball correction practices during establishment of American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.). In December 2022, forty-five 45-gal trees were planted in Gainesville, Florida, in a completely randomized design combining three root treatments (control, shaved, sliced) with three irrigation methods (hand watering, hydrogel bag, conventional slow-release bag). Over 23 months, trunk caliper, height, midday stem water potential, and anchorage (bending stress at 1° inclination) were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models; survival, labor, water, and cost inputs were compared descriptively. Labor differed by two orders of magnitude, but total cost ranked nearly opposite. All trees survived; irrigation method affected no measured response: trees receiving no scheduled irrigation after an initial hydrogel charge were indistinguishable from those hand-watered 48 times (differences within 10–12%). Shaving increased the bending stress required to tilt the trunk 81% over controls, indicating firmer anchorage, without altering growth or water status; slicing had no effect. Under the dormant-season, average-rainfall conditions tested, shaving improved anchorage at negligible cost, and irrigation method had no measurable effect on tree performance.

Rubiaceae, a family known for its economic and ornamental significance, includes several native Florida species, such as wild coffee (Psychotria spp.). This publication focuses on identifying and propagating wild coffee species: P. nervosa, P. nervosa 'Little Psycho', P. nervosa 'Turtle Mound', P. tenuifolia, and P. ligustrifolia. These species thrive in various soil conditions and attract pollinators, making them valuable, adaptable, and appealing for sustainable landscapes and Florida gardens. Research on propagation methods revealed that while physiological dormancy makes seed germination challenging, softwood cuttings treated with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) showed high success rates in rooting. The publication outlines a production schedule, recommending specific substrates and misting techniques to optimize root development. It provides critical insights into enhancing the availability and cultivation of wild coffee species, promoting their use in Florida-friendly landscapes.