Family

Fabaceae

Description

Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is an unusual legume characterized by its thick, sparse branching and large, bipinnate leaves that emerge late in spring and drop early in fall, creating a stark, almost architectural winter form. The species is dioecious, with female trees producing large, leathery seed pods that persist into winter. It may form clonal colonies and is considered a rare Pleistocene relic, thought to have evolved alongside extinct megafauna that once dispersed its seed.

 

Native to the rich floodplains and open woodlands of the Midwest and Upper South, G. dioicus is never abundant in the wild and is most often encountered as an intentionally planted specimen in large-scale landscapes or restoration settings.

Bloom Time

June

May