The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Espresso™ Kentucky coffee-tree

Family: Fabaceae (pea family)

Distribution: Species native to c. and e.-c. North America

Hardiness: USDA Zone 4

Life form: Deciduous tree

Comments: A male fruitless selection of a slow-growing, deciduous tree. It has very large, compound, dark bluish green leaves. A leaf can be 3' long and 2' wide, made up of many leaflets. Habit is somewhat disconcerting to many because of its coarse branching as a young tree. Mature trees become 60' tall and about half as wide, oval, upright with irregular branching with rough, platy dark brown bark. This makes outstanding winter effect. A great shade tree not commonly seen in landscapes.