Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
Identifying Features
Plant Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Central and Eastern North America
Leaf: deciduous, alternate, bipinnately compound with 3-7 pairs of pinnae, leaflets with smooth margin and under 3 inches, full leaf up to 36 inches long
Twig and Bud: twigs stout, greenish to orange, buds tiny
Flower, Fruit and Seed: flowers small and white, in clusters at twig tips, seeds in large pods
Bark: rough and contorted with scaly ridges and curled scales
Shape and Mature Height: branches thick and contorted, mature height 60-80 feet
Garden Value and Considerations
Kentucky coffeetree can tolerate a variety of soil conditions, but needs full sun to grow well. Planting in an open space allows for this tree’s large and striking form at maturity.
Notes
The reason behind this tree’s common name is somewhat of a mystery. By some accounts early settlers roasted the seeds as a coffee substitute, others suggest the name comes from the seeds resembling coffee beans. It should be noted that the seeds are toxic prior to roasting. The leaves are also toxic, so the tree suffers very little browsing from deer or other mammals. There are a couple species of caterpillars that use Kentucky coffeetrees as a host plant. The flowers of the tree attract bumblebees, long-horned bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.