Cladrastis kentukea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cladrastis lutea
- Phonetic Spelling
- klah-DRAS-tis ken-TUK-ee-ah
- Description
-
Yellowwood is a native tree with an open graceful, spreading crown with three seasons of interest. The hanging panicles of flowers in the spring become hanging yellow-brown fruits, and leaf color becomes yellow-orange in the fall. The smooth gray bark adds winter interest. The root system is deep, which makes transplanting difficult but allows shade-loving plants to grow underneath it. Yellowwood makes a great shade tree.
Plant in average moist garden soil and protect from winter winds as branch damage may occur. Once established, it is drought tolerant. Corrective pruning is often necessary to eliminate weak branch forks. Prune only in summer to prevent bleeding.
Plant this shade tree in a recreational play area or children's garden, in a meadow or woodland. It makes an excellent specimen for a winter garden or a wildlife garden as this tree not only provides nesting sites for songbirds. but high-quality pollen and nectar that attracts bees and other pollinators.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Rosea'
- 'Rosea'
- 'Rosea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Rosea'
- 'Rosea'
- 'Rosea'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cladrastis
- Species:
- kentukea
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This wood was used by the Cherokee for carving as well as building structures.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , ME , MO , MS , NC , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts songbirds for nesting sites and nectar and pollen attracts bees and other pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Tolerates high pH and dry soil; No significant insect or disease problems.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 2.5-4 inch long flat yellow-brown seed pods. Displays from July to August.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Up to 12 inch long panicles of white, fragrant, pendulous, blooms in late spring or early summer and often blooms only every 2-3 years. Individual flowers are about 1 inch and pea-like in shape. Blooms from April to May.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- This tree has 8-12 inches long pinnately compound leaves. Each branch has 7-9 leaflets. The leaves have a yellow/ orange fall color.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- On old trees, trunk bark is light gray and pebbly, while on young trees it is light gray and smooth. The bark adds winter interest.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are light gray or brown and covered with scattered white lenticels.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Urban Conditions
