Kentucky Coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioicus
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © jrh38654 (iNaturalist #146780607)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Gymnocladus
- Species:
- Gymnocladus dioicus
- USDA Symbol:
- GYDI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, green
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick bark provides fire resistance. Capable of resprouting from root crown following fire damage.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers deep soils in river valleys
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat required before cold stratification. Hot water treatment or mechanical scarification improves germination rates significantly.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are scarified with concentrated sulfuric acid 1:1 (v:v) acid to seeds for 120 minutes. After acid treatment, seeds are thoroughly rinsed in water to remove residual acid.
Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Legumes are 15 to 25 cm (6 to 8 in)long, each containing 4 to 8 dark brown to black, hard oval seeds. The Kentucky coffee tree naturally occurs in rich bottomlands from New York, Pennsylvania, southern Ontario, and Minnesota southwards to eastern Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Tennessee. It is widely planted elsewhere in the south and central United States as an ornamental. Seed sources are from south central Missouri.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires scarification. | Requires soaking 24-48 hrs; discard floaters.