Family: Fabaceae

This Tree in Colorado: A fairly large tree native to most of the central-eastern U.S. Kentucky coffee tree has a very interesting coarse texture because of the stout branches. This tree should be planted more in Colorado. The only draw back for this tree are the large seed pods on the female tree.

Growth Rate:  Slow to medium. Once established, it can grow a foot or so per year in Colorado

Best Advice:  Plant more of them. Use them for accent trees in yards and as street trees. 

Hardiness:  Zone 3 to 8.  Adapts well to a variety of climates and soils.

Leaves:  Large, bi-pinnately compound. Can be 2 to 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. The leaflets are pinnate and support a ranking of 6 - 14 sub leaflets,1 1/2 inches long, pointed. Margins are entire.

Bark: Smooth and brown on young branches. Older stems are furrowed with a blocky, scaly appearance. It is very distinctive and attractive.

Buds: Small and sunken. Born on stout twigs with large leaf scars and vascular bundles.

Insects and Disease:  Little to none noted.

Information sources: 

Dirr, Michael Dr., "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants," 1990
Kuhns, Michael Dr., "A Guide to the Trees of Utah and the Intermountain West," 1998