Yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea (lutea)
Fabaceae - Legume
Description
Leaves: Alternate; once pinnately compound; 8" to 12" long; deciduous; 5 to 11 elliptic leaflets, 2" to 4" long (terminal leaflet the largest), pointed apex, entire margins, glabrous; bright green; yellow fall color; petiole base swollen, covering bud.
Twigs/buds: Twigs slender; zig-zag; red-brown; glabrous. No terminal bud; several lateral buds at each leaf scar packed into a brown, hairy cone, covered by the leaf base and nearly surrounded by the leaf scar.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect, white, 1" to 1-1/4" long, pea-like, fragrant; borne in large, drooping groups in May to early June; very attractive. Fruit a 2" to 4" long, 1/2" wide legume; brown; maturing in October; contains 4 to 6 brown, flat, very hard seeds.
Bark: Very smooth and gray on young and old branches and the trunk.
Wood: Unimportant; named for yellow heartwood; growth rings conspicuous; ring-porous.
General: Native to the southeastern U.S. and parts of the Midwest. Formerly called C. lutea. Not common, even where native. Likes well-drained, rich soil. Fixes nitrogen. Shade intolerant.
Landscape Use: This is a good, medium-sized landscape tree that is seldom planted, but should be more often because of its nice flowers and foliage. Weak branch attachments due to included bark can be a problem. Zones 4-8.
Cultivar: 'Perkins Pink', 'Rosea'.
Characteristics
General
Family | Fabaceae - Legume |
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Cultivar Availability | Yes |
Hardiness Zone | 4-8 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | Medium |
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Mature Height | High |
Longevity | Medium |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Rounded |
Ornamental
Bark | Yes |
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Fall Color | Yes |
Flowers | Yes |
Foliage | Yes |
Fruit | Yes |
Tolerance
Shade | Medium |
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Salt | Medium |
Drought | Medium |
Poor Drainage | Medium |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | Medium |