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Fabaceae
Kentucky Coffeetree Flower
Gymnocladus dioicus
Endurance and independence.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Gymnocladus
- Native to
- Central United States, Midwest United States
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- tree
- Height
- 60-75 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- deep, rich, well-drained loam
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 3-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Early Kentucky settlers roasted the large seeds as a coffee substitute, giving the tree its common name.
- The raw seeds are toxic, containing cytisine, and must be thoroughly roasted before they are safe to consume.
- It is the state tree of Kentucky, adopted in 1994.
- The tree is one of the last to leaf out in spring and one of the first to drop leaves in fall, spending up to six months bare.
- Its genus name Gymnocladus means 'naked branch' in Greek, referring to its stark winter appearance with thick, stubby twigs.
Color meanings
0
endurance
1
independence
2
resilience