{"product_id":"true-north-kentucky-coffeetree","title":"True North Kentucky Coffeetree","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Minnesota-Bred, Seedless Shade Tree Built for the North\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue North Kentucky Coffeetree (\u003cem\u003eGymnocladus dioicus\u003c\/em\u003e 'UMNSynergy') is a University of Minnesota introduction — selected right here for improved cold hardiness, a narrower upright form, and seedless male genetics. It pairs the legendary urban toughness of the native coffeetree with a tidy habit and pod-free cleanliness that suit real yards and streets. For Twin Cities homeowners who want a bold, durable shade tree bred for our exact climate, True North is hard to beat: a perfect fit for an Edina boulevard, a Plymouth backyard, or a Woodbury streetscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTrue North 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 'UMNSynergy' (True North)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTrue North Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50-60 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25-30 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\u003eNarrow, upright crown\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; selected for improved cold hardiness\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\u003eUniversity of Minnesota selection of an Upper Midwest native\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTrue North Kentucky Coffeetree Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBred for Minnesota — A Local Selection\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue North was developed by the University of Minnesota specifically for our climate, selected for improved cold hardiness and a cleaner, more upright habit than the wild species. If you want a coffeetree that was chosen to thrive in Twin Cities conditions, this is the one — a point of local pride for gardens in Edina, Minnetonka, and St. Paul.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSeedless Street and Yard Shade Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 50 to 60 feet tall but a manageable 25 to 30 feet wide, True North fits real yards and boulevards better than the broad wild species, and its seedless male habit means no messy pods to rake. Combined with strong tolerance for road salt, drought, and compacted soil, it's an excellent, low-litter street and lawn tree for Minneapolis and Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBold Foliage and Architectural Native\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue North keeps the species' best traits — tropical-scale doubly-compound foliage in summer and a striking open branch silhouette in winter — while supporting native ecology. It's a handsome four-season specimen for a Wayzata or Woodbury yard wanting bold presence with a tidy footprint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant True North Kentucky Coffeetree in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a deciduous tree, True North 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 True North 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 True North 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, True North 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 shade tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill True North Kentucky Coffeetree survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetter than almost any coffeetree — it was selected by the University of Minnesota specifically for improved cold hardiness, and is reliable to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), well below anything the Twin Cities' zone 4b–5a delivers. 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 True North 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 produce messy pods?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. True North is a seedless male selection, so it produces no pods and no fall litter — all the bold beauty and toughness of a Kentucky Coffeetree with none of the cleanup of the pod-bearing wild species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow is it different from the other coffeetrees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue North is the University of Minnesota's locally bred selection, chosen for extra cold hardiness and a narrow upright form at a full 50-to-60-foot height. It's broader than the columnar Skinny Latte but more upright and northern-adapted than the wild species or the oval Decaf — the natural pick when Minnesota cold hardiness is the priority.\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\u003eDecaf Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/strong\u003e — a seedless selection with a refined, tidy upright-oval crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow, columnar seedless selection for tight spaces.\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\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many True North Kentucky Coffeetrees Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue North is a specimen and street tree, not a hedge plant. For a single lawn or boulevard specimen, allow at least 15 feet of clearance from your house, driveway, or overhead lines so the 25–30 ft crown can develop. For an allee or boulevard row, space trees 25 to 30 feet on center; for a loose grouping on a large lot, plant 2–3 trees 20–25 feet apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTrue North Kentucky Coffeetree Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the last trees to leaf out — often late May in the metro. That's normal for coffeetrees and protects the new growth from late frosts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Huge doubly-compound leaves give a lush, almost tropical canopy that casts light, dappled shade — grass grows well beneath it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage turns a clear golden yellow, then drops cleanly; as a seedless male, there are no pods to rake.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The bold, open branch architecture and coarse, ridged bark make a striking silhouette against snow — true four-season presence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ 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\/skinny-latte-kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eSkinny Latte Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — the columnar sibling for tight side yards where True North won't fit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/espresso-kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eEspresso Kentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — a vase-shaped seedless selection to vary a coffeetree allee.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eKentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — the broad wild species for acreage and naturalized plantings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/common-hackberry\"\u003eCommon Hackberry\u003c\/a\u003e — another bulletproof native boulevard tree to diversify a street planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs True North Kentucky Coffeetree Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose True North if you have full sun, room for a 50–60 ft shade tree, and tough conditions — clay, road salt, drought, or heavy deer pressure won't faze it. It's the cold-hardiest coffeetree you can buy and drops no pods. It's not a fit if you're shading a small patio quickly: it leafs out late, grows at a moderate pace, and needs real vertical space to shine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.5\"BB","offer_id":54260824047921,"sku":"GT-T2062","price":397.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260824080689,"sku":"GT-T2062.3","price":452.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260824113457,"sku":"GT-T2062.5","price":480.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260824146225,"sku":"GT-T2062.8","price":535.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\"BB","offer_id":54260824178993,"sku":"GT-T2062.81","price":562.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/true-north-kentucky-coffeetree.jpg?v=1779426690","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/true-north-kentucky-coffeetree","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}