Kentucky Coffeetree

Bold Native Shade
Architectural Winter Form
Yellow Fall Color

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#7 Container

$223.00

6 in stock

#15 Container

$241.00

5 in stock

#25 Container

$286.00

5 in stock

2-3" Caliper

$439.00

8 in stock

Size

Clear

Add installation for only _ per item!

Starting at $223.00

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We guarantee that your plants and trees will arrive happy and healthy. If you’re not satisfied after receiving your trees and plants, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Trees and plants are living organisms and require care, maintenance, and protection to survive, root in, and establish properly. Trees that do not survive despite receiving the proper care, maintenance, and protection within the first year will be considered for a one-time replacement. If you purchased plants outside of your growing zone recommendation, or have not properly cared for your new plants as described in your welcome letter, your purchase won’t be covered by our Grasshopper guarantee.
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Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
In Stock
518-793-9623

Kentucky Coffeetree

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Kentucky Coffeetree

Kentucky Coffeetree is a large native deciduous shade tree known for bold compound foliage, rugged branching, textured bark, and an open architectural canopy. Its distinctive character makes it an excellent choice for spacious lawns, parks, naturalized areas, and broad sunny landscapes.

Why choose Kentucky Coffeetree?

Choose Kentucky Coffeetree for its tough native character, dramatic branch structure, and refined shade without an overly dense canopy. Large compound leaves create a tropical-looking texture in summer, while yellow fall color and coarse winter branching add seasonal interest. This tree is especially valuable in open landscapes where it has room to mature and show off its bold, sculptural form. It is also well suited to park-like plantings and larger residential properties that need durable long-term structure.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Gymnocladus dioicus
Common Name: Kentucky Coffeetree
Plant Type: Deciduous tree
Growth Habit: Large, upright to broad-spreading shade tree with an open canopy

Kentucky Coffeetree Additional Information

Kentucky Coffeetree is admired for its coarse, architectural silhouette and unusually large, doubly compound leaves that emerge later than many shade trees. New foliage may show bronzy tones before maturing to bluish-green through summer. In fall, the foliage typically turns yellow before dropping, revealing stout branches and deeply textured bark that provide strong winter interest.

In late spring to early summer, mature trees may produce greenish-white flower clusters. Female trees can develop large brown seed pods that add ornamental character into the colder months, though pod production varies because the species has separate male and female plants. Kentucky Coffeetree is best used as a specimen shade tree, lawn tree, park tree, street tree, or naturalized planting where its mature size can be accommodated. Prune young trees to encourage a strong framework, then allow the tree’s natural bold form to become the main feature.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Kentucky Coffeetree in full sun with well-drained soil and plenty of room for its mature canopy. Set the root flare at or slightly above soil level and avoid crowding it near buildings, driveways, or overhead lines.

2. Watering: Water deeply and consistently during the first growing seasons while roots establish. Once established, Kentucky Coffeetree adapts well to average landscape conditions and benefits from deep watering during extended dry periods.

3. Mulching: Apply a wide mulch ring around the root zone to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce turf competition. Keep mulch pulled back from the trunk to protect the bark.

4. Pruning: Prune young trees to develop strong branch spacing and a balanced structure. Mature trees usually need only occasional pruning to remove damaged, crossing, or poorly placed branches.

Related Resources

FAQs

How large does Kentucky Coffeetree get?
Kentucky Coffeetree can become a large shade tree, commonly reaching about 60 to 80 feet tall with a broad spread in favorable landscape conditions.
What makes Kentucky Coffeetree unique?
Its bold compound leaves, open canopy, rugged branching, textured bark, and strong winter silhouette give it a distinctive architectural look in large landscapes.
Where should I plant Kentucky Coffeetree?
Plant it in a spacious, sunny location such as an open lawn, park-like setting, large streetscape, or naturalized area where its mature canopy has room to develop.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Tall Growth
Full Sun
Seasonal

Mature Height	Large: Up to 30 ft or more
Mature Spread	20+ ft
Growth Rate	Moderate, Slow
Botanical Name	Gymnocladus dioicus
Bloom Time	Late Spring, Early Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually
Family	Fabaceae
Flower Color	White
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun
Maintenance	Medium
Size	#15 Container, #25 Container, #7 Container, 2-3" Caliper

Map of the United States with all states filled in green, showing a uniform green fill across the country.

Growing Zones 3-8 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -40)

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