Gymnocladus dioicus

The Kentucky Coffeetree is a native North American tree, admired for its distinctive silhouette and its scaly, furrowed bark, which gives it a rugged, attractive appearance, especially in winter. Its common name, “coffeetree,” comes from the historical use of its roasted seeds as a coffee substitute by early settlers, although the raw seeds are toxic. It bears very large compound leaves with numerous oval leaflets, giving the tree a fine texture and an exotic look. In autumn, the foliage turns a striking golden yellow. Small, greenish flowers appear in spring, followed by large, flattened, woody seed pods of reddish-brown color that often persist through much of the winter, adding ornamental interest. This is a hardy and adaptable tree, well suited to urban environments.

Soil type: The Kentucky Coffeetree is highly tolerant of soil conditions. While it prefers deep, moist, well-drained soils, it also adapts well to poor, dry, heavy clay, or alkaline soils. It can also tolerate some salinity.