Kentucky Coffeetree

Detailed species information

Kentucky coffeetree is a relatively rare deciduous tree in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the legume family Fabaceae. These trees are native to the midwest and parts of the southern United States. The tree reaches 60–70 feet (18–21 meters) in height and 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter. Relatively short-lived, the Kentucky coffeetree lives about 100 to 150 years and is characterized by gray, scaly bark with narrow ridges and alternate, bipinnately compound green leaflets. The flowers appear in June and are a greenish white. The Kentucky coffee tree is in the legume family and produces seeds contained in a six- to ten-inch pale green pod which contains a sweet and gooey pulp.

Typically, the Kentucky coffeetree prefers rich, moist soils in lowlands such as floodplains, river valleys, and ravines. The tree grows in small colonies with interconnected root systems and prefers limestone and calcium-rich soils. Because of how large and protected the seeds of the Kentucky coffeetree are, they cannot be dispersed by small animals or by wind. It is likely that historically the seeds were distributed by now-extinct megafauna, leading to the species only persisting in areas with very moist conditions to break down fallen pods.

Kentucky coffeetree is widely cultivated for landscaping and does exceedingly well in urban environments as it is resistant to many stressful conditions such as extreme temperature, road salt, drought, and insects. The beans of the tree can also be eaten if correctly prepared and are often roasted and used to make a hot beverage, which can serve as a coffee alternative.