This illustration provided by the City of New Ulm shows the seed pod, seeds and leaf structure of the Kentucky Coffee tree, the subject of this year’s Big Tree contest.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Park & Recreation Department is holding its 13th annual Big Tree contest.

Find the largest Kentucky Coffee tree in the city limits of New Ulm and win up to $200 toward a tree to plant anywhere in the city limits of New Ulm, including in your yard.

The contest is sponsored by the City of New Ulm Tree Advisory Commission (TAC).

Entry forms are available through the city. Fill out this form and get it to the New Ulm Civic Center by Monday, July 19. Trees will be measured by members of TAC. Final determination of winning tree will be made by TAC.

The entrant who identifies the largest Kentucky Coffee tree in New Ulm city limits will be reimbursed up to $200 to purchase and plant a tree, from the city approved tree list, procured from a city designated local nursery.

Native to the Midwest, the Kentucky Coffee tree bears leathery, reddish-brown seed pods that add winter interest to the Midwestern landscape. Its mature height is 60-75 feet. It’s mature width is 40-50 feet.

The bark is dark brown and rough, becoming scaly with curved edges.

It bears alternate, bipinnately compound leaves with numerous leaflets. The lowest set of leaflets simple. Leaflets are oval with entire margins and blue green in color, turning mild yellow in the fall.

The seed pod is 5 to 10-inch-long, red-brown and leathery, containing a few large rounded seeds on female trees. Male trees are seedless.

For questions call Jeff Andersen, City Hall Engineering Office at 359-8380.