Kentucky Coffeetree
ExploreTrees
Kentucky Coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K.Koch
The Kentucky Coffeetree is a unique tree with large leaves and cool seed pods. It’s named because its seeds were once used to make coffee!
Habitat: Riverbanks and open fields
Appearance
The Kentucky Coffeetree has a distinctive gray-brown, deeply ridged bark that looks scaly or flaky. It features unusually large, bipinnately compound leaves and large, leathery, dark reddish-brown seed pods that persist through winter, making it easily identifiable.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusGymnocladus
Category
TreesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's one of the last trees to grow leaves in spring and one of the first to drop them.
Its leaves can grow up to three feet long, making them some of the largest of any tree!
Its name comes from pioneers who roasted its seeds to make a coffee substitute!
The Kentucky Coffeetree might have relied on giant mammoths to spread its seeds long ago!
Special abilities
Ability
Winter Pod Power
Kentucky Coffeetree has tough, dark seed pods that cling to branches through winter, helping them disperse seeds far from the parent tree.
Ability
Drought Defender
Kentucky Coffeetree can withstand dry conditions due to its deep root system, helping it survive in less-than-ideal soils.
Ability
Fire Resistant Friend
Kentucky Coffeetree has thick, rough bark that helps protect its trunk from damage during moderate forest fires.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 20-30 m
- Canopy Spread
- 10-15 m
- Edible
- No
- Trunk Diameter
- 60-90 cm
- Lifespan
- 80-150 years
- Fruit Type
- Pod
- Growth Rate
- Medium
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Bees visit its flowers for nectar.
shelters
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Jays use its branches for perching and nesting.
shelters
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Opossums might den in its hollows.
depends on
Turkey Tail
Trametes versicolor
This fungus decomposes dead wood.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Coffeetree
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Kentucky Coffeetree?
20-30 m
How wide does Kentucky Coffeetree spread?
10-15 m
Is Kentucky Coffeetree edible?
No
How big is Kentucky Coffeetree?
60-90 cm
How long does Kentucky Coffeetree live?
80-150 years
Where is Kentucky Coffeetree usually found?
Riverbanks and open fields
What kind of fruit does Kentucky Coffeetree produce?
Pod
How fast does Kentucky Coffeetree grow?
Medium
Snap Map
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