Kola nut
Cola nitida
A bitter, caffeine-rich nut shared to welcome guests and seal agreements across West Africa.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: part shade
Size: about 40 ft tall, 25 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: West Africa
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: West & Central African forests. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
Kola nuts are shared across West Africa to welcome guests, open ceremonies, seal marriages and settle disputes. The caffeine-rich nuts were traded across the Sahara for centuries, and they gave cola drinks their name.
Planting
Part shade when young, deep moist soil, humid frost-free tropics. Plant fresh seed; it doesn't keep.
Growing
Water and mulch; trees bear in about 7 years and for decades.
Harvest and use
Split the pods, remove the pink or white nuts and chew them fresh or dried. Bitter at first, then sweet.
What to watch for
Caffeine: don't overdo it.
See if Kola nut fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More tropical and subtropical food plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home