Cladrastis Species, American Yellowwood, Kentucky Yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea
| Family: | Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
| Genus: | Cladrastis (kluh-DRAS-tis) (Info) |
| Species: | kentukea (ken-TUK-ee-uh) (Info) |
| Synonym: | Cladrastis fragrans |
| Synonym: | Cladrastis lutea |
| Synonym: | Cladrastis tinctoria |
| Synonym: | Sophora kentukea |
| Synonym: | Virgilia lutea |
Category:
Trees
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Deciduous
Foliage Color:
Height:
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
Spacing:
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Morrilton, Arkansas
Fort Collins, Colorado
Atlanta, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Lisle, Illinois
Clermont, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky(2 reports)
Hi Hat, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky(3 reports)
Nicholasville, Kentucky(2 reports)
Paris, Kentucky
Smiths Grove, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
Coushatta, Louisiana
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Riverdale, Maryland
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Grafton, Massachusetts
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Thompsonville, Michigan
Ballwin, Missouri
Brunswick, Missouri
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Saint Louis, Missouri
Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Fairport, New York
Rochester, New York
Southold, New York
Watertown, New York
Athens, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Lindon, Utah
Orem, Utah
Everett, Washington
Cambridge, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Positive | On Sep 2, 2015, lovetrees13 from Roberts, IL wrote: I live in central Il just bought a 10 foot yellowwood and planted it now we water it and watch it grow and wait |
| Positive | On May 24, 2015, Rickwebb from Downingtown, PA wrote: A wonderful, beautiful, medium sized tree with smooth, gray bark, pretty, compound foliage, and handsome white pea-like flowers in May. Grows about 1 to 2 feet/yr and lives about 120 to 160 years in nature. Should be used much more. |
| Positive | On Feb 25, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: Beautiful flowers, foliage, and bark. One of the best of our many beautiful native trees. Rarely troubled by pests or diseases. |
| Positive | On Jun 2, 2013, AuburnR from Gaithersburg, MD wrote: From Gaithersburg MD. I adore this tree. We planted ours in fall 2011. My husband feared we would never see it bloom. It bloomed in spring 2012, and this year was spectacular. Blooms didn't stay too long because of three days of constant strong winds, but it's gorgeous in flower. There is a huge one at Brookside "Gardens in Wheaton, must be at least 60 feet high by 40 feet wide. Wonderful tree! |
| Positive | On Aug 15, 2012, YVW from Atlanta, GA wrote: I have a beautiful Yellowwood in my back yard. I bought it at the Trees Atlanta annual sale about 5+ years ago and it just bloomed this spring. What a fabulous surprise! Love this tree. I am going to attempt to propagate by seed. So, add Atlanta, GA to a region it thrives in, especially when we get rain. It is in a full sun, low lying, meadow-like environment. |
| Positive | On May 22, 2011, baker2 from Hinsdale, NH wrote: This plant survived 3 weeks of not being watered, while in its pot, in the summer, then being stripped by deer the following spring. It is now 5 years old in my garden and doing beautifully - pruned to a lovely shape. I am anxious to see it bloom and smell the fragrance. It is grown on side streets in Keene NH and does well. |
| Positive | On Jun 9, 2007, watertownbigdog from Watertown, NY wrote: There is a relatively large one that has been growing on grounds at the New York State Zoo in Watertown. Getting ready to bloom this year |
| Positive | On Dec 2, 2006, ViburnumValley from Scott County, KY (Zone 5b) wrote: American yellowwood is an excellent medium-size shade tree for the Ohio River valley and central US. The smooth gray bark is reminiscent of American beech; the arching vase-shaped habit mimics the much larger American elm; the pendulous fragrant white flower clusters could just as well hang from wisteria vines; and the fall colors in golden yellows hinting towards orange just glow in the setting sun. Oh, and it's a native, too. |
| Positive | On Aug 16, 2005, gonedutch from Fairport, NY wrote: The grower of my pink-flowering Yellowwood had less than a 50 percent survival rate and only two survivors with pink flowers (see image). In my upstate NY garden it has done well in full sun with periodic watering during dry spells. It survived a late-winter cold snap while a nearby Davidea (Dove Tree) did not. I agree with others that any pruning must be done in summer or winter to avoid excessive fluid loss. The pendelous floral display against its green foliage and grey bark is well worth the two year wait! |
| Neutral | On May 13, 2005, carrieebryan from Midland, WA (Zone 8a) wrote: I planted my Cladrastis last October. The new leaves this spring looked dandy until we had some late frosts in April, which damaged or outright killed just about all of them. I had a few scary weeks of watching the leaves turn brown and crispy, but now (mid-May) a new, 2nd set of leaves is starting to bud out. |
| Neutral | On Sep 7, 2002, mystic from Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) wrote: Has blooms that look like wisteria that are white with yellow markings.Usually just blooms every other year. |
| Neutral | On Aug 31, 2001, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun. Prune in summer only because cuts made in winter or spring tend to bleed considerably. |
