Kentucky Coffee Tree, Kentucky Coffeetree

On Apr 18, 2011, Shaunapie from Chambersburg, PA wrote:

One of these trees grows outside my dorm I collected some seeds last month and cleaned them up the first one i've tried to grow already has roots going!

On Feb 19, 2008, lobsterandi from Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4a) wrote:

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.

On Sep 7, 2003, Glowclubbr from Silver Spring, MD wrote:

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 (zon... read moree 6+).

On Aug 31, 2001, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

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'.