# 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! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Riverbanks and open fields - **Also known as:** Coffeetree ![Kentucky Coffeetree](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426458/objects/4878.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Gymnocladus ## 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 - **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. - **Drought Defender:** Kentucky Coffeetree can withstand dry conditions due to its deep root system, helping it survive in less-than-ideal soils. - **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 - **Spread:** 10-15 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 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. - **Shelter:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Jays use its branches for perching and nesting. - **Shelter:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Opossums might den in its hollows. - **Depends on:** [Turkey Tail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/turkey-tail) (*Trametes versicolor*) — This fungus decomposes dead wood. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## 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 to identify Kentucky Coffeetree? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Bellefontaine Cemetery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellefontaine-cemetery) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Boerner Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boerner-botanical-gardens) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Hoffner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoffner-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Mount Airy Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-airy-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest - [Audubon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-park) — Kentucky, US · Historic District - [Cairo Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cairo-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District [View all places to see Kentucky Coffeetree](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/kentucky-coffeetree) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Kentucky Coffeetree: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-coffeetree)