Scientific Name:
Gymnocladus dioica
Pronunciation:
jim-NOH-kla-dus di-o-EE-ka
Common Name:
Kentucky coffee tree
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Tree with upward arching branches (almost elm-like); leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, most 60-90cm long, 'leaflets' alternate, ovate, most 4-6cm long x 2-3cm wide, margin entire; Winter ID: rough hard bark with scaly re-curved ridges; buds superposed, globular, <2mm wide; terminal buds absent; leaf scars heart-shaped with 5 bundle scars.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical, Vase
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
7 - 10m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
U.S. - central
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Fall interest, Mixed shrub border, Specimen plant, Waterside planting (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Google Cultivars shown or on campus may include G. 'Espresso' (has an arching habit, large leaves, and lacks fruit).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Bipinnate
Colour in Summer:
Green, newly emerging leaves tinges pink and purple
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate, Cuspidate
Bases:
Cuneate, Rounded
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
leaves pubescent beneath when young; short petioles, swollen t base
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme
Flower Morphology:
Dioecious plant
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Green
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar
Additional Info:
Some trees may also have perfect flowers
Fruit Type:
Legume
Fruit Colour:
Green, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
Showy, Persistent
Bark Morphology:
Showy, Exfoliating, Moderately fissured, Single stem trunk
Bark or Stem Colour:
Dark Grey, Dark brown
Additional Info:
Develops interesting mosaic pattern on older branches
Leaf Bud Type:
Rounded or globular, Superposed
Leaf Scar Shape:
Heart shaped
Organ Modifications:
Root nodules (N-fixing)
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant)
