Chinese Coffee Tree is a deciduous small tree native to China in the bean family. This tree is nearly extinct in China and has been placed on a watch list. It will grow 15 to 30 feet tall and wide with an irregular to rounded crown. The information found regarding growing this tree is variable. However many agree it is only hardy to zone 7 or 8 and needs protection from cold winds. This slow-growing tree has huge bipinnately compound leaves that emerge purple and then turn green. In the fall they have showy bright yellow leaves. Being in the legume family, it fixes nitrogen and tolerates poor soil. Plant in full sun. Flowering is best in warm summer areas. Use as a small shade tree or under story planting. Be sure to clean up the dropped leaves and seed so they are not ingested by grazing animals, pets or children. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but watch for webworms and scale.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Large bipinnately compound leaves start out purple and turn green with 8-12 alternate leaflets. Both surfaces are silky pubescent. Leaflets are 8-10 inches
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pale yellow-white with a tinge of purple flowers in pendulous racemes. Dioecious so both male and female plants are needed to produce fruits.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
5.5 to 10-inch-long legumes
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Gey/brown bark with conspicuous whitish lenticels
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Young stems are purple green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Legume
Edibility
Legumes are edible if cooked to remove the saponins
Uses (ethnobotany)
The beans are boiled and used for making soap. Wood is used in cabinet making.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Small Space
Design feature
Shade Tree; Small Tree; Street Tree; Understory Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous tree #deciduous #purple leaves #large leaves #small tree #slow growing #small spaces #fall color yellow #fall interest #shade tree #nitrogen fixation #full sun tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Poor Soil
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Bark; Fruits; Leaves
Poison symptoms
Its leaves, seeds, and pulp are toxic to humans and animals. The seeds are very toxic when raw and can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and even death if not properly processed by roasting.
Toxic principle
hydrocyanic acid
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Medium severity poison; parts: Bark; Fruits; Leaves