Kentucky Coffeetree is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10 and shrugs off deer. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
4-10
pH Range
6-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Kentucky Coffeetree on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether kentucky coffeetree actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score kentucky coffeetree against your land's real conditions.
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See Kentucky Coffeetree
What Kentucky Coffeetree is
Kentucky Coffeetree grows as a perennial and reaches around 75 feet at maturity. It blooms white in early summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Kentucky Coffeetree
Kentucky Coffeetree grows in USDA zones 4 through 10. Kentucky Coffeetree does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 6 to 8. It needs about 500 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
6 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-32°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
75 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set kentucky coffeetree in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Kentucky Coffeetree prefers pH 6 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — kentucky coffeetree is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Where Kentucky Coffeetree thrives
Kentucky Coffeetree is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–10·Where Kentucky Coffeetree growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Kentucky Coffeetree can grow in these states:
See if Kentucky Coffeetree will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether kentucky coffeetree actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Kentucky Coffeetree in my zone?
Kentucky Coffeetree grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Kentucky Coffeetree?
Set kentucky coffeetree out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Kentucky Coffeetree need?
Kentucky Coffeetree needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Kentucky Coffeetree need?
Kentucky Coffeetree prefers soil pH 6 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Is Kentucky Coffeetree safe for pets?
Kentucky Coffeetree is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.