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Kentucky Coffeetree
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Common Name: Kentucky Coffeetree
Scientific Name: Gymnocladus dioicus
Location: Spalding Circle
Size: 3 inches diameter at breast height
Native to: Ohio and Mississippi River Valley regions
This tree typically grows to: 60 to 80 feet tall and 40 to 55 feet wide
This tree prefers these conditions: Full sun, medium moisture
Special about this tree:
- Huge pinnately double-compound leaves can total 30 inches. Each might hold five to nine pairs of leaflets that in turn hold six to 14 oval sub-leaflets.
- Greenish white flowers on tips of stems emerge in April-June.
- Flowers mature to broad five-inch seedpods.
- Native Americans and early settlers roasted and ground “coffee-nuts” seeds to make a hot beverage, though seeds are toxic when raw.
- Course branching of mature tree creates ominous silhouette in winter.
- Tolerates fast-draining conditions (such as rain gardens), and air pollution.
