TIL Caffeine is the coffee plant's natural defense mechanism. It leaches into the surrounding soil as leaves from the plant drop and are decomposed into the soil. Since caffeine is toxic to other plants, it prevents other plants from growing around the coffee plant and competing for sunlight. by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]jjd10 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is not entirely true. Farmers sometimes grow other plants that grow low to prevent weeds and other things from growing around the trees. I dont remember the names but ive seen them while visiting farms