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Kentucky Coffee Tree

About Kentucky Coffee Tree

Kentucky Coffee Tree is a slow to moderate growing deciduous native tree in the bean family. It is drought and air pollution tolerant. It makes an excellent addition to a rain garden or in a landscape to provide shade. It tolerates a wide range of soil types.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Gymnocladus dioicus

Genus

Gymnocladus

Family

Fabaceae

Order

Fabales

Also known as

Gymnocladus dioica

How to care for Kentucky Coffee Tree

💦 Water

How often to water your Kentucky Coffee Tree

Kentucky Coffee Tree needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Kentucky Coffee Tree in your home

Kentucky Coffee Tree love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Kentucky Coffee Tree does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Kentucky Coffee Tree in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Kentucky Coffee Tree

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Kentucky Coffee Tree: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Kentucky Coffee Tree after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #KentuckyCoffeetree

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Kentucky Coffee Tree is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Kentucky Coffee Tree →

Benefits of Growing Kentucky Coffee Tree →

Common Kentucky Coffee Tree Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Kentucky Coffee Tree →

💦 Water Needs

Kentucky Coffee Tree prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Kentucky Coffee Tree Water Frequency →

Kentucky Coffee Tree Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Kentucky Coffee Tree requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Kentucky Coffee Tree Light Requirements →

Kentucky Coffee Tree Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Kentucky Coffee Tree is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Kentucky Coffee Tree is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

🪴 Soil

Kentucky Coffee Tree does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Kentucky Coffee Tree →

Best Pots for Kentucky Coffee Tree →

When and How to Successfully Repot Kentucky Coffee Tree →

What Are Healthy Kentucky Coffee Tree Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Kentucky Coffee Tree grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Kentucky Coffee Tree →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Kentucky Coffee Tree will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Kentucky Coffee Tree Lifecycle →

Kentucky Coffee Tree Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Kentucky Coffee Tree →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Kentucky Coffee Tree can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Kentucky Coffee Tree Temperature Tolerance →

Kentucky Coffee Tree Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Kentucky Coffee Tree →

When to Plant Kentucky Coffee Tree →

How to Plant Kentucky Coffee Tree →

Where to Plant Kentucky Coffee Tree →

Winter Care for Kentucky Coffee Tree →

Best Companion Plants for Kentucky Coffee Tree →

Is Kentucky Coffee Tree a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Kentucky Coffee Tree, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.