BlueBell Arboretum & Nursery

Mail order trees, shrubs, conifers and woody climbers

Description

One of the most elegant of all hardy trees, Gymnocladus dioica has large, pink tinted young leaves (80 - 100 cm long), turning green as they age and glorious shades of yellow in autumn before falling. New branches have a ghostly white bloom in winter.

Although having greenish-white flowers, this tree rarely flowers in the United Kingdom as we generally do not have hot enough summers. A striking ornamental tree suitable for most gardens and woodland areas.

Features

• Common name: Kentucky Coffee Tree.
• Position: Full sun or partial shade.
• Soil: Any reasonably well drained, fertile soil. Gymnocladus dioica is tolerant of dry soil conditions.
• Hardiness: Very hardy, but will produce better quality leaves with a little shelter from severe winds.
• Flowering Period: June.
• Flower Colour: Greenish-white
• Rate of Growth: Slow.
• Habit: Small elegantly branching tree.
• Height: up to 10 m (32 ft)
• Spread: 8 m (26 ft)
• Notes: If planted in a hot area where it will flower, this plant can produce handsome seed pods although both a female and a male plant are required as Gymnocladus are not self-fertile.
• Supplied Size: 80 - 100 cm tall in 4L deep containers

Plant Video

The Gymnocladus dioica in our woodland gardens (taken in mid October 2010).

Further Information

An unusual tree in the United Kingdom, this can be found growing in the wild in Eastern and Central North America. Impoverished European settlers once used the seeds of Gymnocladus dioica to brew substitute coffee.