Kentucky Coffee Tree

Name: Kentucky Coffee Tree
Brand: Nature Hills Nursery
SKU: 18624
Price: 268.07 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Gymnocladus dioicus

Nature Hills Nursery

$268⁰⁷

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Plant Size

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Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Give this tree plenty of room to soak up the sun; it requires full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct light daily. While it can tolerate a little shade, full sun ensures a strong, uniform canopy and the best growth rate.
Soil: This tree is incredibly adaptable and isn't picky about soil texture, happily growing in clay, loam, or sandy sites as long as they drain well. It is particularly valued for handling tough urban conditions, including alkaline soils and road salt, making it a rugged choice for challenging spots.

Watering Requirements

During the first year or two, water your tree deeply every week to help its coarse, deep root system get established. Once settled, the Kentucky Coffee Tree is remarkably drought-tolerant and handles dry spells with ease. However, during extreme heat or prolonged drought, an occasional deep soak will keep the foliage looking fresh and prevent stress.

Pruning Tips

Pruning is rarely needed for this low-maintenance tree, but if you must shape it, do so in late winter or very early spring while the tree is dormant. This timing allows you to see the branch structure clearly and prevents sap from bleeding, which can happen if you prune too late in the spring. Focus on removing any dead wood or crossing branches to maintain its unique, bold architectural form.

Fertilizer Needs

This tree is a light feeder and generally doesn't require regular fertilization if planted in average soil. If growth seems sluggish, you can apply a slow-release, balanced tree fertilizer in early spring before new leaves emerge. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this can push new growth that won't have time to harden off before winter freezes.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Fascinating Native Kentucky Coffee Tree

Native Tree
Historically Important
Excellent Urban Shade Tree
Energy Conservation Tree
Drought and Pollution Tolerant
Hardy Tree
Handles Wet or Dry Soils
Good Storm and Wind Resistance
Narrow Habit
Huge, Blue-Green Compound Leaves
Large Leaves Fall Early for Easy Fall Clean-Up
Casts Dappled Shade
Easy to Grow Other Plants Underneath
Ornamental Tree with Winter Interest

Every tree is a treasure, and Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is no exception. Did you know that ancient mammoths used to feed on the 10 inch long seed pods displayed on the female trees?

Yes, mammoths! Imagine growing an interesting native tree that used to be spread by munching mammoths.

Perhaps you remember playing with the round, brown “coffee beans” as a child. The Native Americans used them in games of chance and for jewelry. Settlers roasted and ground the female seeds as an admittedly poor substitute for coffee.

Kentucky Coffee Tree used to cover a wide swathe of the central and eastern United States. But nowadays, it’s rare. This tree deserves a close look by modern property owners.

These large growing, urban-savvy shade trees have no insect or disease problems. The wood is tough, and displays a remarkable lack of twiggy, fine branches. It withstands storms and pollution.

They are drought tolerant and widely adaptable to many soil types. It thrives in wet soil, or dry.

Female trees bloom star-shaped, greenish-white flowers that cascade from the branches. You’ll love the rich, Rose scent of these tiny blooms.

And the leaves are the largest of all of our native trees. Huge, bipinnately compound leaves can grow up to 3 feet long! They may be comprised of over 100 small “leaflets”.

They add a beautiful, fine-textured charm in the growing season. The young leaves display bronze, but age to a wonderful, dark green with a bluish overcast.

Kentucky Coffee Tree casts a delicious, dappled shade that is very restful, never gloomy. You can grow flowering shrubs, spring-flowering bulbs and perennials underneath without any problem.

The large leaves can develop yellow fall color. They drop all at once in early autumn, which makes for an easy fall cleanup.

Without fine, twiggy branching, the tree displays a wonderfully open growth habit. It forms a narrow silhouette with a rounded crown in the winter landscape.

Furrowed, dark brown bark, and the bare branches make this tree an incredible addition to a winter landscape. Female trees add the unique pods that decorate the bare branches all season.

And you won’t have to worry about these rugged trees. In fact, urban municipalities are turning more and more to the bold charm of the Kentucky Coffee Tree.

After all, they are looking for drought tolerant, strong trees for shade and street use. Watch for them in your local parks and thoroughfares.

For a beautiful tree with unique features and a hardy disposition, the Kentucky Coffee Tree is an excellent choice. Order yours today, and help bring this rare tree back!

How to Use Kentucky Coffee Tree in the Landscape

This tree is wonderful for energy conservation. The large leaves shield your house from the heat of the summer, but fall cleanly and early in autumn. You’ll enjoy every bit of warmth generated by the winter sun.

They make great street trees, with tough wood that withstands storms. Large commercial properties should add this tree, and many other native trees, shrubs and perennials. Advertise your corporate initiatives to generate interest and new business.

Kentucky Coffee Tree (sometimes spelled Kentucky Coffeetree) makes a wonderful delineation between rough woods and manicured landscape. Run a naturalized grouping along the border, and vary the spacing between trees.

Create a grove by planting 3 or 5 of them in a gentle zig-zag planting pattern. Far better to use unequal, isosceles triangles (avoid equilateral triangles) for the most natural look.

Underplant them with Paw Paws, Redbud, Chickasaw Plums or Flowering Dogwood trees. Chokeberry shrubs would make a terrific partner plant. It can be grown near Black Walnut.

Include them in windbreaks and shelterbelts. The large leaves blow and sway in the wind, adding a tropical flair. Think of them as “native Palm trees”, and you’ll get the picture.

Use in low-lying Rain Gardens to filter water runoff from roofs and roads. Or, add them to dry areas that require drought tolerant plants.

If you have a hankering for wildcrafting, please note that the seeds should be roasted, and not eaten raw. Fence in fruiting, female trees, if they are used near livestock.

The reddish-brown wood is rot-resistant and used for fence posts, railway sleepers, cabinets, paneling and fine furniture. It makes good firewood with high heat and low sparks, as well.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Kentucky Coffee Tree prefers moist, rich, well-drained soils. However, it is extremely adaptable to most soils. It becomes very drought tolerant once established.

It is fast-growing while young. Prune to develop a strong structure in winter or early spring. Plant it in full sun for best results.

Enjoy these tough, unusual, interesting, historical native tree! Order your Kentucky Coffee Trees today.

Botanical Name

Gymnocladus dioicus
Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Fabidae
Species

dioicus
Growing Zones

3-8
Height

60-75 ft
Width

40-50 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- White
Leaf Color
- Green
Fall Color

Yellow
Native

Yes
Bloom Period

Late Spring
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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Growing Zones 3-8

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kentucky coffee tree male or female, and will a single tree produce pods?

Kentucky Coffee Trees are dioecious, meaning individual trees are either male or female. Only female trees produce the large seed pods that give this tree its name. A single tree won't produce pods unless it's female and there's a male tree nearby for pollination.

Is the Kentucky coffee tree drought-tolerant once established?

Yes, Kentucky Coffee Tree is exceptionally drought tolerant once established and adapts to both wet and dry soils. This native tree also handles urban pollution and storms remarkably well. It's an excellent low-maintenance shade tree option available at naturehills.com.

How fast does the Kentucky coffee tree grow compared to other shade trees?

Kentucky Coffee Tree grows at a moderate pace of 12-24 inches per year, which is slower than fast-growing maples or poplars but comparable to oaks. This steady growth rate contributes to its exceptional storm resistance and strong wood structure. Be patient with young trees as they establish their extensive root system during the first few years.

What is the winter hardiness of the Kentucky coffee tree in cold climates?

Kentucky Coffee Tree is extremely cold hardy, thriving in USDA zones 3-8. This native tree tolerates harsh winters without damage and actually benefits from cold exposure. Plant it in fall for best establishment before winter.

Can I plant a young Kentucky coffee tree in a pot or container long-term?

Kentucky Coffee Trees grow too large for permanent container culture, reaching mature heights of 60-75 feet. These native shade trees need space for their extensive root system and massive 3-foot compound leaves. Plant in the ground for best results, and shop quality specimens at naturehills.com.

What shipping options do you have for Kentucky coffee tree saplings, and how are they packaged?

Kentucky Coffee Trees ship as bare root saplings in spring or potted plants during the growing season. They're carefully packaged to protect the root system during transit. Check your hardiness zone compatibility before ordering, as these native trees perform best in zones 3-8.

Does the Kentucky coffee tree have any pest or disease issues?

Kentucky Coffee Trees have no significant insect or disease problems, making them exceptionally low-maintenance natives. Their tough wood and simple branching structure naturally resist most issues that plague other shade trees. This pest-free quality makes them ideal for urban environments where other trees struggle.