Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Plant Species >> Trees

Identifying Kentucky Coffeetree Pods from a Cemetery Walk

Dark brown, 3–4″ wide × 5–6″ long leathery pods with sticky green pulp and penny-sized seeds are Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) fruit. Female trees produce pods in autumn. Seeds have hard coats; pulp is sweet.

Native to the Midwest, including southern Indiana. A great teaching specimen for seed morphology.

Trees: Growing Dogwood Trees from Seed: Overcoming Dormancy Challenges; Saving and Storing “Hot Lips” Salvia Seeds; Large Leafless Tree in Summer: Dead Tree Removal; Mesquite Pod Suppression: Florel Fruit Eliminator; Two Trees with Distinct Problems; Oak with Old Pruning Wound and Insects; Preventing Queen Palm Seed Pod Mess: Early Removal; Deadheading Seed Pods to Encourage More Flowers; Peony Seed Pods and Division: Moving Established Plants; Devil's Claw (Proboscidea louisianica): Spiny Seed Pods in California

Garden Articles

Sap Leaking at Cottonwood Base: Likely Borer Damage

Cottonwood Tree Limb Dieback: Causes and Solutions

Why Is My Mature Oak Not Producing Acorns?

Cottony Maple Scale and Apple Tree Spray Advice

Fire-Damaged Century-Old Holly: Assessment and Recovery Care

Mandevilla Seed Pods: Harvesting and Growing Your Own

Propagating Crossvine from Seed Pods

Plants

Pine Tree Borers in Woodpecker Holes: Identification and Treatment

Propagating Magnolia from Cuttings: Difficult but Possible

Cottonwood Seed Management: Florel Growth Regulator for Cotton Control

Pine Tree Oozing Yellow Pitch: Dioryctria Moth Borer

Magnolia Trunk Cavity: Fill or Leave?

Growing Magnolias from Seed: A Complete Guide for Charleston Gardeners

Oak Bark Peeling After Storm Damage: Natural Healing