Cladrastis Species, American Yellowwood, Kentucky Yellowwood

Cladrastiskentukea

Family
Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Cladrastis (kluh-DRAS-tis)
Species
kentukea (ken-TUK-ee-uh)
Synonym
Cladrastis fragrans
Cladrastis lutea
Cladrastis tinctoria
Sophora kentukea
Virgilia lutea
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Deciduous
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)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other Details
Category
Trees
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
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 all

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Gardener's Notes:

9
positives
3
neutrals
0
negative
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L
Roberts, IL | September 2015 | positive

I live in central Il just bought a 10 foot yellowwood and planted it now we water it and watch it grow and wait

R
Downingtown, PA | May 2015 | positive

A wonderful, beautiful, medium sized tree with smooth, gray bark, pretty, compound foliage, and handsome white pea-like flowers in May. G...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | February 2014 | positive

Beautiful flowers, foliage, and bark. One of the best of our many beautiful native trees. Rarely troubled by pests or diseases.
...Read More

A
Gaithersburg, MD | June 2013 | positive

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 s...Read More

Y
Y
YVW
Atlanta, GA | August 2012 | positive

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 s...Read More

B
B
Hinsdale, NH | May 2011 | positive

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 i...Read More

W
Watertown, NY | June 2007 | positive

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

V
Scott County, KY (Zone 5b) | December 2006 | positive

American yellowwood is an excellent medium-size shade tree for the Ohio River valley and central US. The smooth gray bark is reminiscent...Read More

G
Fairport, NY | August 2005 | positive

The grower of my pink-flowering Yellowwood had less than a 50 percent survival rate and only two survivors with pink flowers (see image)....Read More

C
Midland, WA (Zone 8a) | May 2005 | neutral

I planted my Cladrastis last October. The new leaves this spring looked dandy until we had some late frosts in April, which damaged or o...Read More

M
M
Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) | September 2002 | neutral

Has blooms that look like wisteria that are white with yellow markings.Usually just blooms every other year.

S
Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) | August 2001 | neutral

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 bl...Read More

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