2019 Plant of the Year, Honorable Mention

Proposed by: a member of Garden Club of Lexington, Zone VII
Seconded by: a member of Garden Club of Lexington, Zone VII

Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky Coffeetree) grows in USDA  zones 3 to 8 and has unique characteristics that make it stand out as a striking and aesthetically pleasing tree throughout all four seasons. In early summer, the showy greenish white female flowers are 8 to 12 inches long and have the fragrance of roses.  During summer, the tree has a soft lacy appearance and the female flowers give way to flattened, reddish-brown pods up to 10 inches long. The pods, which ripen in October and persist well into winter, provide a striking silhouette against a winter sky.  Male trees are also a good option because they provide seasonal interest with smaller flowers and no seedpods.