# Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)

> A large, open tree with a coarse, picturesque winter silhouette, deeply fissured scaly bark and huge doubly compound leaves up to 3 ft long that emerge pink-bronze and turn yellow in fall. It leafs out late and drops early. Female trees carry leathery brown pods all winter; podless male cultivars ('Espresso', 'Prairie Titan') avoid the litter. It tolerates heat, drought, salt, pollution and ice, making it one of the most dependable city trees.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/gymnocladus-dioicus · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Coffeetree
- Family: Fabaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, drops leaves
- Mature height: 21 m; spread 14 m
- Growth: Slow growing; lives about 125 years
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 8
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Low water
- Soil: Deep, rich, moist soil preferred but tolerates clay, sand, alkaline, poor and compacted urban soils
- Native range: Midwestern floodplains from southern Ontario and Wisconsin south to Kentucky and Louisiana and west to Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.

**Benefits:** Shade, Drought tolerant, Salt tolerant, Flood tolerant, Storm resistant, Fall color, Flowers, Fixes nitrogen

**Good for:** Street tree, Yard shade, parks

**Watch out for:** Toxic parts, Heavy litter, Large roots

## Care

Plant small, since the taproot makes large trees hard to move, in full sun and any reasonable soil. Water the first two seasons, then it needs little. Prune when dormant for structure. It has no serious pests or diseases; leaves, seeds and pod pulp are toxic to people and pets.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** ON, Canada (Native to southern Ontario.); United States (Native from Kentucky and Connecticut west to Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota, north to Wisconsin and Michigan, south to Louisiana (more than 15 states).)
- **Recommended:** Toronto, ON, Canada (On Toronto's list of species planted on streets (native to Ontario).); Sacramento, CA, United States (On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list); San Jose, CA, United States (On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list); Denver, CO, United States (On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List); Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Boston, MA, United States (On the City of Boston Urban Forestry Division recommended public street trees list); New York, NY, United States (On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List); Portland, OR, United States (On Portland's approved street tree list for planting strips 8.5 ft and wider.); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List)

## Sources

- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gymnocladus-dioicus/
- https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/kentucky-coffeetree/
- https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/GYDI
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnocladus_dioicus