Kentucky Coffeetree : Physiological Description

The Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicius) may reach heights of up to 60 feet, with a trunk diameter of up to 3 feet. About 10 feet up, it branches off into 3 or 4 divisions that contribute to a pyramidal silhouette. The leaves come off the branch alternately, and themselves can be up to 3 feet long. Large, smooth and pale green with a waxy margin, they are sometimes compared to the leaves of the Honey Locust or Devil’s Walking Stick. The bark is scaly, gray or tan, has deep trenches and is flaky to the touch. The branches and roots are thick and blunt. There are two tiny winter buds that are barely visible between the leaf stalk and branch. The leaves are alternate and bipinnately compound, and the green-white flowers are dioecious and blossom by June.