how do you identify a kentucky coffee tree

How to Identify the Kentucky Coffeetree

• Leaf Identification The Kentucky Coffeetree has doubly compound, 1′ to 3′ long leaves with 5 to 9 pairs of leaf branches. They are a dark green and turn yellow in the fall. ...
• Twig and Bud Identification [more information coming soon] ...
• Bark Identification The Kentucky Coffeetree has grayish-brown, scaly bark. ...
• Fruit Identification [more information coming soon] ...
• Flower Identification ...
• ‘Expresso-JFS’ Identification ...

Full Answer

What does a Kentucky coffee tree look like?

Male and female Kentucky coffee trees produce flowers. Male flowers on Kentucky coffee trees are clusters of small greenish-white flowers, with each panicle measuring 3” to 4” (7.5 – 10 cm) long. Kentucky coffee female tree flowers are more prominent and measure 8” to 12” (20 – 30 cm) long.

How do you know when Kentucky coffee pods are ripe?

Large pods or fruit on the Kentucky coffee tree appear green and turn reddish-brown throughout the winter. The flattened seed pods are thick and leathery and measure 5” to 10” (12 – 25 cm) long and up to 2” (5 cm) wide. The coffee tree pods ripen in October and persist until early spring, when they drop.

How do you plant a Kentucky coffee tree?

When planting the Kentucky coffee tree in the landscape, choose a sunny location that has well-drained ground. The hardy coffee trees adapt well to most soils—fertile, compacted, loamy, moist, dry, or alkaline soils. It’s also good to remember to give the tree enough room as it can spread up to 50 ft. (15 m).

How much sun does a Kentucky coffee tree need?

The Kentucky coffee tree does best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, this tree does as well in clay but may thrive a bit better in sandy loam. It isn't bothered by too much acidity or alkalinity.

Do all Kentucky coffee trees have pods?

Types of Kentucky Coffee Tree There are several cultivars available through the nursery trade, most of them male, which do not produce fruit. They therefore produce less pod litter, making them more suitable for smaller urban settings such as streets and small parks.

Are Kentucky coffee trees rare?

Although widely distributed, this tree is a rare forest tree and occurs in scattered populations. The national champion Kentucky coffeetree, 97 feet tall, is in Maryland.

Are there male and female Kentucky coffee trees?

The flowers are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). The female flowers are 8 to 12 inches long, greenish white in color, appear in early summer, and are quite fragrant. The male flowers are about half the size of the female flowers.

Does a Kentucky coffeetree have thorns?

Like the honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) we talked about in the last entry, this tree is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), but, unlike the honeylocust, it does not fix nitrogen in its root system, and does not have thorns.

How do I identify a coffee tree?

How to Identify Different Varieties of CoffeeStature (tall or compact)Color of leaf tips (green or bronze)Shape of the plant (conical or round)Shape of the leaves (elongated or broad)Shape and size of the cherries and green beans (elongated, round, or other, and small, medium, large, or very large)More items...•

What does a Kentucky coffeetree leaf look like?

The leaves of Kentucky coffee tree are green, pinnately compound with 6 – 18 leaflets. The leaf is up to 90 cm (35.4 in) long. The leaflets are ovate and 5 - 7 cm (2 - 2.8 in) long. The leaf margin is smooth.

How do you tell a male tree from a female tree?

Lots of trees are hermaphroditic — that is, their flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts. Other species have male trees and female trees, which you can tell apart by looking at their flowers: The male reproductive parts are the pollen-laden stamen; the female parts their egg-holding pistils.

Can you eat the seeds of the Kentucky coffeetree?

The seed may be roasted and used as a substitute for coffee beans; however, unroasted pods and seeds are toxic.

Can you make coffee from a Kentucky coffeetree?

The Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is native to North America and is a relatively short lived (100-150 years) tree. It is a nitrogen fixer and provides seeds that have been used by people on the continent for thousands of years as a coffee-like drink.

Is Kentucky coffeetree invasive?

Kentucky coffeetree's numbers are declining rapidly due to over harvesting. The species is not invasive; it is only found in small clusters due to root sprouting and makes up a rare component of any woodland.

Do squirrels eat Kentucky coffeetree?

Not many animals eat the pods, though squirrels and deer sometimes do. It's probable that giant sloths, mastodons, mammoths, and other large mammals — megafauna that lived on this continent for millions of years and became extinct only 10,000–20,000 years ago — were this tree's seed dispersers.

Do deer eat Kentucky coffee trees?

Cold or warm climates, polluted or clean air, poor or rich soil, soggy or dry conditions - it doesn't matter - the Kentucky Coffeetree can thrive wherever you plant it. And it's completely resistant to pests, diseases, deer and other damaging wildlife… nothing's going to take down this sturdy, dependable tree.

What is the rarest kind of tree?

Pennantia baylisianaWhat's the Rarest Tree in the World? (Pennantia baylisiana) In 1945, on the Three Kings Islands of New Zealand, the rarest tree in the world, the Pennantia baylisiana, was discovered by the University of Otago's Professor Geoff Baylis. The Pennantia baylisiana has large, lustrous leaves.

Should I plant a Kentucky coffeetree?

With its reputation as a tough species, the Kentucky coffeetree is an excellent choice for parks, golf courses, and other large areas. It is also widely used as an ornamental or street tree.

What is the rarest tree ever?

The tree species known only as Pennantia baylisiana could be the rarest plant on Earth. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records once called it that. Just a single tree exists in the wild, on one of the Three Kings Islands off the coast of New Zealand, where it has sat, alone, since 1945.

Is Kentucky coffeetree invasive?

Kentucky coffeetree's numbers are declining rapidly due to over harvesting. The species is not invasive; it is only found in small clusters due to root sprouting and makes up a rare component of any woodland.

What is a Kentucky coffee tree?

Introduction: Kentucky coffeetree is a unique tree with large, woody pods and very large leaves made up of smaller leaflets. Its common name refers to the use of the pods by early settlers as a coffee substitute. With its bold form, contorted branching, unique bark and decorative clusters of large pods rattling in the wind, ...

What is the botanical name for the Kentucky coffee tree?

Cattle have died after drinking from pools of water containing fallen seeds and leaves from Kentucky coffeetree. Gymnocladus dioicus is the botanical name for the Kentucky coffeetree. Gymnos is the Greek word for "naked" and klados is Greek for "branch.".

What is the name of the tree with no leaves?

The species name, dioicus, refers to the tree's dioecious nature. Because leaves of this tree are late to emerge and early to fall, the Kentucky coffeetree is without leaves, or naked, much of the year. Kentucky coffeetree has the largest leaves of our woodland trees.

Which tree has the largest leaves?

Kentucky coffeetree has the largest leaves of our woodland trees. The bark is rough and furrowed and the older branches terminate in a flower cluster, forcing new branches to form in a "zig-zag" pattern. Kentucky coffeetree has reasonably strong wood and will tolerate some ice without losing branches. Print fact sheet.

How big do coffee trees get?

Growth habit - This tree has an irregular form with coarse branches. Tree size: The coffeetree tends to reach a height of 60 to 75 feet with a 40- to 50-foot spread at maturity. It can reach a height of 90 feet. Growth rate is slow to moderate.

How big is a poisonous fruit?

The poisonous fruit is a 5- to 10-inch-long, brown, woody pod that contains sticky pulp and a few large seeds. The toxic alkaloid, cystisine, is neutralized in the roasting process. Leaf: Very large (3 feet long and 2 feet wide) compound leaves with numerous leaflets.

How tall is a sage tree?

It can reach a height of 90 feet. Growth rate is slow to moderate. Flower and fruit: Greenish-white, 1-inch flowers are arranged in panicles at branch tips. Panicles are 8 to 12 inches long on female trees; 3 to 4 inches long on male trees.

What is the color of the Kentucky coffee tree?

The Kentucky coffee tree is a popular ornamental tree, thanks to its appearance and growth habit. The moderately fast-growing tree has attractive green leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. The golden-yellow foliage contrasts nicely with the blackish-brown large seed pods dangling from the branches. In the winter, the Kentucky coffee tree has an attractive silhouette due to its open branching habit.

What is a coffee tree?

The Kentucky coffee tree (also spelled coffeetree) is an attractive medium-sized deciduous tree with pinnate green leaves, greenish-white flowers, and large reddish-brown seed pods. Native to the Midwest, the Kentucky coffee tree is identified by its irregular oval crown with open branches that provide partial shade. Additionally, scaly gray-brown furrowed bark and reddish-brown twigs help identify the tree in winter.

Why is my Kentucky coffee tree dead?

Sometimes the Kentucky coffee tree can appear dead in landscapes. This is because the tree is leafless from late fall until late spring. However, the attractive branching of the medium-sized tree creates plenty of visual appeal, despite the lack of foliage.

What is the sound of a coffee tree in Kentucky?

One of the features of Kentucky coffee tree pods is the rattling sound they make in the wind. The clattering noise occurs as the hard seed-filled brown bean-like pods knock together.

How long are the leaves of a Kentucky coffee tree?

The feathery dark green leaves can be between 1 and 3 ft. (0.3 – 1 m) long. The coffee tree leaves appear in spring and turn bright golden yellow in the fall.

When do coffee pods ripen in Kentucky?

The flattened seed pods are thick and leathery and measure 5” to 10” (12 – 25 cm) long and up to 2” (5 cm) wide. The coffee tree pods ripen in October and persist until early spring, when they drop.

How to get rock hard seeds to germinate?

To prepare the rock-hard seeds for germination, put the bean-like seed in a non-metallic, heat-proof bowl. Pour plenty of boiling water over the seeds and stir with a spoon. Leave overnight to soak. Then remove any floating seeds.