Kentucky Coffeetree, Gymnocladus dioicus, Native Minnesota Tree, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

A tall (up to 70') tree with a narrow open crown. Leaves are large bipinnately compound, 12 to 30" long. Flowers in the spring are small greenish-white arranged in upright terminal clusters. The autumn fruit is a large (4 to 7" long, 1 to 2" wide) thick dark red-brown pod that may stay on the tree over winter, but if it drops in autumn, it does not open then to disburse the seeds. The seeds are 3/4" bean like rounded seeds.

The generic name is Greek and means "naked branch" as the tree appears to be dead when it is not in leaf. It leafs out late and drops leaves early. The common name comes from the seeds which were an early coffee substitute when roasted, but are considered somewhat poisonous (as are the leaves) when not roasted. It is a superior tree for the home landscape as it is not known to be susceptible to disease or insects in this area. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum introduced a cultivar in 1996 that is a male without the seed pods and is considered a superior shade tree.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Kentucky Coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K. Koch	Pea	Woodland	Spring flowering, seed pods in Autumn lasting to following spring.
Other names and notes	A tall (up to 70') tree with a narrow open crown. Leaves are large bipinnately compound, 12 to 30" long. Flowers in the spring are small greenish-white arranged in upright terminal clusters. The autumn fruit is a large (4 to 7" long, 1 to 2" wide) thick dark red-brown pod that may stay on the tree over winter, but if it drops in autumn, it does not open then to disburse the seeds. The seeds are 3/4" bean like rounded seeds. The generic name is Greek and means "naked branch" as the tree appears to be dead when it is not in leaf. It leafs out late and drops leaves early. The common name comes from the seeds which were an early coffee substitute when roasted, but are considered somewhat poisonous (as are the leaves) when not roasted. It is a superior tree for the home landscape as it is not known to be susceptible to disease or insects in this area. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum introduced a cultivar in 1996 that is a male without the seed pods and is considered a superior shade tree.