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Kentucky Coffee Tree - Gymnocladus dioicus
Fabaceae: Pea Family
Range: Europe / USDA Hardiness Zone: 3
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Kentucky Coffee Tree
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This very rough, coarsely
branched tree usually grows to a height of 40-70
feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet. The bark
is very rough. The leaves are doubly compound,
with about 9 broad oval-shaped leaflets that are
pointed and toothless. They are alternate and
there is a pair of single leaflets on the base
of the main stalk. There are male and female
trees, which produce their flowers in white,
nodding clusters, and bloom in May to June. The
fruit is a broad, leathery, dark brown pod, 4-9
inches long, pulpy inside with 6-8 seeds, and
pods persist in the winter. The seeds at one
time were used as a substitute for coffee and
were called coffee-nuts. The seeds are actually
toxic unless boiled thoroughly. |
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Leaves
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The scientific name of
the Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioica)
means "naked branch." This tree spends about
6 months of the year without leaves. When
the doubly compound leaves appear in late
spring, they are very large, up to one metre
long and 60 cm wide. A legume, the
Coffeetree produces long, dark brown
leathery pods that contain up to seven
rounded, dark, hard-coated seeds. The
Kentucky Coffeetree prefers sunny locales in
rich woodlands and at the edges of marshes.
However, it tolerates a wide variety of
growing conditions in full sun. |
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Kentucky Coffee Tree Bark
With 17-year periodic cicada, Magicicada sp.
brood XIII, 2007
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Healthy, attractive trees
add interest, pleasure, and value to
landscapes. Some factors to keep in mind as
you select a tree relate to your projected
planting site and some factors relate to
you. Healthy plants, growing under
conditions that suit them, are marvelously
engineered to deal with minor incidence of
heat, cold, drought, storm damage, pests,
and disease. Sometimes we unknowingly stress
them, reducing their ability to stay
healthy.
Trees provide cover: Birds and small animals need concealed places for nesting and hiding from predators. The presence of wildlife can make your backyard or woodlot a special place for your family and children. As urban sprawl displaces many birds and animals from their natural habitat, it becomes even more important for home and landowners to provide green space and mini-sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife.
Trees provide food: Having a wide variety of
trees that provide seeds, nuts and fruit for
wildlife to eat is one way to increase your
success in attracting wildlife. although
artificial bird feeders can supplement
naturally occurring foods, they can attract
unwanted pests such as pigeons, Canada
geese, squirrels, and even rats. Trees also
provide food by attracting insects and
providing cover for their activities;
mating, egg-laying. Insects form a huge
portion of the warm-weather food supply for
many species of songbirds.
And, most important in this age of man-made
global warming, trees sequester large
amounts of carbon dioxide.
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