Gymnocladus dioicus
Kentucky Coffeetree
Mature Size, Growth, Longevity
Average mature size of 60-75' tall and 40-50' wide. Slow to medium growth rate.
Native Range
New York and Pennsylvania to Minnesota,Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Flower and Fruit Details
Flowers are dioecious or polygamo-dioecious, greenish white, with 4-5 petals, each 0.3" long, blooming late May to early June. Fruits are reddish-brown to brownish-black pods, leathery, 5-10" long, 1.5-2" wide, containing a few, large, blackish-brown, hard-shelled, rounded seeds imbedded in a sweet, sticky pulp, ripening in October, but persisting through winter.
Leaf and Bark Features
Some yellow fall color. Bark is rough with hard, thin, firm and scaly ridges curling outward (recurving) along their edges - a very unique and interesting bark pattern.
Culture and Care
Prefers deep, rich, moist soil with full sun, but highly adaptable. No serious disease or insect problems.
Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA
The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.