Speed of Growth for a Coffeetree

Speed of Growth

• The Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus is regarded as a slow to medium grower. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, slow growth is considered to be less than 12 inches annually, while medium growth is counted as that between 13 and 24 inches each year. An ornamental tree, it eventually achieves a height of between 60 and 75 feet. Therefore, most Kentucky coffeetrees require a minimum of 30 years to reach full maturity.

Environment

• The tree possesses a spread of between 40 and 50 feet. The speed of growth for a coffeetree depends on the environment in which it is planted. It is considered hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 8, an area that encompasses much of the U.S. aside from extreme tropical locales like South Florida and South Texas. The coffeetree can tolerate drought conditions and requires full sun.

Considerations

• The tree is regularly used in landscape and city settings due to its overall tolerance to both pollution and drought. While it is not a fast-growing tree, its relative slow rate of growth is actually a bonus in a landscape setting. This lackadaisical pace restrains the coffeetree from overpowering others nearby. It also serves as an ideal lawn tree as the sparse branches allow sunshine to reach the grass below.

Fun Facts

• The Kentucky coffeetree gains its name from the black seeds that grow inside 10-inch-long pods that dangle from the tree. Early settlers in the Kentucky territory noted the seed's similarity in appearance to that of a coffee bean, and the tree was thus dubbed. Growing the tree from these seeds is relatively easy, provided the seed is scratched with a file or sandpaper to allow the germination process to proceed speedily.