Calling all shade tree commissions! Kentucky Coffeetree is here to spread shade and love to your family, neighbors, and furry wildlife friends. Growing up to 80 feet tall and nearly 50 feet across, Kentucky Coffeetree is an striking presence, especially in winter, with its rough bark, coarse texture, and large persistent seed pods. In the warmer days of spring, fragrant whitish flowers bloom high among the branches and bipinnately compound leaves cast a lovely dappled shade. Kentucky Coffeetree is dioecious, so while both male and female plants feature unique architecture and bluish-green foliage, only the female plants produce the trademark pods, the seeds of which were once roasted to create a coffee-like beverage. Unfortunately, that beverage lacked caffeine so we’re personally happy to leave the pods alone while sipping our full-caf cuppa.

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