{"product_id":"skinny-latte-kentucky-coffeetree","title":"Skinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Tall, Narrow, Seedless Native Shade Tree for Tight Spaces\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSkinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree (\u003cem\u003eGymnocladus dioicus\u003c\/em\u003e 'Morton') is the narrowest coffeetree you can plant — a Morton Arboretum introduction with a strictly upright, columnar habit. It packs the bold doubly-compound foliage, dramatic winter branch structure, and bombproof native toughness of the species into a slim 12-to-18-foot footprint, and as a seedless male selection it drops no messy pods. It's the answer when you want a tall, distinctive shade tree for a narrow Edina side yard, a tight Plymouth boulevard, or a clean formal row in Woodbury.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSkinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable cellpadding=\"6\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGymnocladus dioicus 'Morton' (Skinny Latte)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSkinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e45-50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12-18 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; drought-tolerant once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable; tolerates clay, drought, road salt, and urban conditions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous; large doubly-compound leaves, clear yellow fall color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStrictly upright, narrow columnar habit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeedless (male selection) — no pods, no litter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExcellent; deer avoid it\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelection of an Upper Midwest native\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSkinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTall Tree for Narrow Spaces\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 45 to 50 feet tall but just 12 to 18 feet wide, Skinny Latte gives you real height and presence where a broad shade tree would never fit. Use it in a narrow side yard, between houses, or along a tight property line in Edina, Plymouth, or Maple Grove to add vertical structure and high, dappled shade without crowding the lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eClean, Seedless Boulevard and Street Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it's a seedless male selection, Skinny Latte produces no messy pods — a real advantage over the wild species for streetside and high-traffic areas. Pair that with its slim columnar form and proven tolerance for road salt, drought, and compacted urban soil, and it's an outstanding boulevard, parking-island, or formal allée tree in Minneapolis and St. Paul.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eArchitectural Native Accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of bold tropical-scale foliage and a narrow, upright silhouette makes Skinny Latte a striking architectural accent. Plant a single specimen for vertical drama, or a matched row for formal rhythm along a drive or walk in Wayzata or Woodbury — with all the native toughness and dramatic winter branching of a Kentucky Coffeetree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Skinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a deciduous tree, Skinny Latte can be planted across a wider window than evergreens. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April through May, once the ground has thawed)\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eearly fall (September through mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e are both excellent, since the tree is leafless or hardening off and transplant stress is low. Spring planting allows a full season to establish; fall planting uses warm soil and cool air for strong rooting. Avoid the heat of midsummer when possible, and don't plant after mid-October, when frozen ground can heave new roots. Like all coffeetrees, it leafs out late in spring — that's normal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Skinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDig wide, not deep.\u003c\/strong\u003e Make the hole 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper — the root flare should sit slightly above grade. In heavy clay, go even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCheck drainage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fill the hole with water; if it pools for hours, loosen the surrounding clay or mound-plant a few inches high so roots aren't waterlogged.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackfill with amended soil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mix native soil with 20 to 30 percent compost to loosen heavy clay and hold moisture during establishment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSet it at the right depth.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant so the root flare is visible at the surface — never bury the trunk. Remove twine and fold back burlap on B\u0026amp;B stock.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuild a water basin.\u003c\/strong\u003e Form a 3 to 4 inch soil ring around the base to direct water to the roots. Flatten it before winter so ice doesn't collect against the trunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMulch with bark.\u003c\/strong\u003e Spread 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips in a wide ring, kept 2 inches off the trunk. Skip gravel mulch — it bakes roots and offers no winter insulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Skinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3 to 4 days, keeping the root zone evenly moist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5 to 7 days during active growth; more in heat, less when rain is steady.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro) so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce established, Skinny Latte is exceptionally drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental water. During prolonged dry spells (two-plus weeks without rain), give it a deep soak every 10 to 14 days; otherwise let Minnesota's rainfall do the work. That toughness after establishment makes it a low-maintenance long-term tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Skinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), well below anything the Twin Cities' zone 4b–5a delivers, and shares the full cold-hardiness of its native parent species. The narrow winter silhouette of stout branches is a bonus feature in the cold months. No special protection is needed once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, excellent. Deer avoid Kentucky Coffeetree, so Skinny Latte holds up well even in high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Chanhassen. A trunk guard the first winter or two helps prevent buck rub, but browse is essentially a non-issue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it really stay this narrow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — Skinny Latte was selected specifically for its strictly upright, columnar habit, maturing at just 12 to 18 feet wide against a 45-to-50-foot height. It's the narrowest Kentucky Coffeetree available, which is exactly why it works where the broad wild species or a typical shade tree can't.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it make a mess with seedpods?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Skinny Latte is a seedless male selection, so it produces no pods and no fall litter — a clean choice for patios, walks, and streetside plantings where the wild species' pods would be a nuisance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/strong\u003e — the broad native species for big open spaces with bold tropical-scale foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEspresso Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/strong\u003e — a seedless selection with a graceful upright vase form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrue North Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/strong\u003e — an extra cold-hardy, uniform selection for northern sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDecaf Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/strong\u003e — another seedless, pod-free coffeetree for clean low-maintenance shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Skinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne makes a dramatic vertical specimen — give it 10–12 feet of clearance from the house given its 12–18 foot mature width. Its real specialty is the formal row: space trees 15–18 feet on center along a driveway, walk, or property line for a tall columnar rhythm (a 60-foot drive takes 4–5 trees). For a narrow boulevard, 18–20 feet on center keeps crowns just touching at maturity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSkinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leafs out fashionably late — often late May — then unfurls huge doubly-compound leaves with a bronze-pink cast that mature to blue-green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tropical-scale foliage on a strict column casts high, dappled shade that lets lawn grow right up to the trunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clean, clear yellow fall color, and — because it's a seedless male — zero pod litter to rake.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The signature show: stout, picturesque branches on a narrow silhouette, one of the most architectural winter outlines of any northern tree.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eKentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — the broad native species where you have room; the pair shows off the columnar selection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/espresso-kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eEspresso Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — a seedless vase-shaped sibling for a coordinated, pod-free planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/true-north-kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eTrue North Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — the extra-hardy choice for exposed northern or open-country sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/decaf-kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eDecaf Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — another clean seedless coffeetree to vary form within the same tough family.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Skinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it if you need serious height in a slot only 12–18 feet wide — side yards, boulevards, formal rows — on a full-sun site, especially where clay, road salt, drought, or deer defeat other trees. It's not a fit if you want quick, broad shade or early spring green: growth is moderate, the canopy is narrow by design, and it leafs out later than almost anything else in the yard.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260824277297,"sku":"GT-T2061.9","price":493.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/skinny-latte-kentucky-coffeetree.jpg?v=1779426680","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/skinny-latte-kentucky-coffeetree","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}