PlantFiles: Kentucky Coffee Tree, Kentucky Coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioicus

Not very common in the Twin Cities area - they are fairly rare and the largest number I have seen is at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus but in a bit remote location and also at the Minnesota Arboretum.

The tree provides nice shade, but not such a dark shade that plants can't be grown underneath it. It seems to grow decently well anywhere... Its a pretty tree, turns very yellow in the fall.

It has nice big seeds. If you're planting htem indoors, I've found that a 72 hour hot water (not boiling) soak helps them out. If the seeds swell up, you've hit the jackpot. If they don't swell, try filing the seed coat until you see a little bit of the white insides, and then soak them in room temp water.

Note: When you file the seeds, make sure you don't file the embryo. The little pointy bump that sticks out of the seed is where the embryo is, so file well away from that area.

This tree is mostly native West of the Applachians. It's seeds were roasted and used as coffee in some areas during the Civil War.

Native Americans were supposed to have roasted the seeds too...eating them as nuts. Care should be taken ,because as with any wild food, parts of this tree are poisionous. The pulp between the seeds is poision and cattle will even become ill after drinking water where seed pods have fallen into it.

The reddish wood is strong and coarse, but takes a good polish. It's useful in cabinets and makes fine fenceposts.

The unique bark makes for good Winter interest, and the large compound leaves make a fine shade tree for suburban areas.

In Windsor, Ontario: it is nearly extinct in the wild, where it generally grows slowly. In intensive cultivation (i.e., water, abundant fertilizer, mulch, and no turf ), I had a seedling grow very fast - 20 feet in 5 years. However they do grow slowly after larger trees are transplanted.

An excellent street tree, they tolerate extreme heat, cold, salt, and just about any kind of soil. I have seen very large specimen in Ontario, and Maryland (U.S.) They are known to reach 130 feet tall, 70' is average. There is a large one on Main Street, in Laurel. It is very vigorous there, despite growing in terrible conditions. I also recomment the extremely rare and beautiful Chinese Coffee Tree. It grows at the U.S. National Arboretum, and seems hardy and moderate growing (zone 6+).

Recommended as a lower-water street tree in Denver, CO. Slow-growing and leafs out late, which is a good defense against spring snows. As it matures, Gymnocladus dioicus gains a wonderfully angular winter profile.

This tree is a durable tree with an attractive form. The female trees produce fruit (pods that look lima bean-like) and are initially green, developing to brown, may persist for several years. The seeds can be slightly poisonous. Leaf color in autumn is yellow. This tree can reach a height of 80'.