SL28
Coffee(Coffee)
A celebrated tall Coffea arabica cultivar selected in 1935 from a single drought-tolerant tree by Scott Agricultural Laboratories in Kenya, and considered a Bourbon-type variety. Renowned for its rusticity, some SL28 trees in Kenya remain productive for decades.
Flavor Profile
Very good cup quality potential at high altitude; one of the most well-regarded African varieties, known for a bright, complex, blackcurrant-like character.
Visual Characteristics
Tall plant with green leaf tips and large beans.
Growing Tips
Excellent drought tolerance and rusticity. Optimal altitude >1,200m near the equator (>900m at 5-15 degrees, >700m at higher latitudes). Low yield potential but low nutrition requirements; plant at a wider spacing of 1,000-2,000 plants/ha with single-stem pruning.
Resistance Information
Disease Resistance
Poor; susceptible to coffee leaf rust, coffee berry disease, and nematodes, though notably drought tolerant.
Where to Buy
Sourcing information coming soon. Check local nurseries and seed banks for availability.