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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

Kentucky Coffeetree

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

Kentucky Coffeetree has tough, dark seed pods that cling to branches through winter, helping them disperse seeds far from the parent tree.

Kentucky Coffeetree can withstand dry conditions due to its deep root system, helping it survive in less-than-ideal soils.

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
Is 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

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Shade Tolerant

Discover plants that love to live in the shadows, growing beautifully and happily even in spots where the sun doesn't shine all day long.

Broadleaf Tree

Discover magnificent trees that have wide, flat leaves, unlike the needles of pine trees! These are often the trees that change colors beautifully in autumn.

Fruit Bearing

These amazing plants develop fruits, which often contain seeds and are sometimes delicious treats for us or wildlife. They're nature's way of spreading new life!