Gymnocladus dioicus
Kentucky coffeetree
Notes:
Light shade and brief in-leaf period permit underplanting and turf. Poisonous fruit unless roasted. Not a nitrogen fixer despite family. Sympodial branching due to terminal inflorescences. Fall color inconsistent, brief. Females have fragrant flowers but nuisance of seed pods.
Almost no pest/disease problems. Needs deep soil.
USDA, Stoecklein, and JerseyYards.org agree on slow growth.
'Expresso', 'J.C. McDaniel' (Prairie Titan), and 'Stately Manor' are all males with an upright habit much taller than wide; Dove/Woolridge list 'J.C. McDaniel' at 60'x70', but I think this was a typo, as other sources give it as 60'x30'. Dirr claims 'Stately Manor' to be slower growing than other named clones.
Sources: White Oak, Sunset, UK, Dove/Woolridge, UFL, JerseyYards.org, UConn, USDA, Stoecklein.
Tags:
attracts:bees
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
attracts:butterflies
attracts:larval host
branches strong
clay tolerant
coarse texture
compacted soil intolerant
deer resistant
dioecious
drought tolerant
easy to grow
exposure:full sun
fall color notable
fire risk low
form:tree
fragrant flowers
full sun preferred
habit:irregular
habit:oval
infertile soil tolerant
litter:fruit
litter:leaves
long-lived
native:eastern North America
open canopy
persistence:deciduous
pest/disease free
poisonous
pollution tolerant
pruning not required
rich soil preferred
roots:coarse/few
roots:low damage potential
salt tolerant
sandy soil tolerant
showy bark
showy flowers
type:broadleaf
use:shade tree
use:specimen
use:street
water:moderate to little
water:regular
wet soil tolerant
wind tolerant
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