Cladrastis kentukea (lutea)

• BOTANICAL NAME: Cladrastis kentukea (lutea)
• PRONUNCIATION: kla-DRAS-tis ken-TUK-e-a
• COMMON NAME: Yellowwood
• FAMILY: Leguminosae
• NATIVITY: Mid-Atlantic to midwestern U.S.,; not abundant.
• GROWTH HABIT: Rounded crown; 30'-50' (75') tall. slow to moderate growth rate. Notorious for poor branching architecture.
• HARDINESS: Zone 3-8
• CULTURE: Well-drained soils in full sun; pH tolerant; requires adequate moisture.
• LANDSCAPE USE: Develops weak crotches and therefore requires corrective pruning in summer when young; an excellent, though underused, medium-sized tree.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, 8"-12" long, odd-pinnately compound with 7-11 elliptic to ovate leaflets. Leaflets alternate. Yellow fall color. White flowers in pendulous racemes in late May, June. Very attractive and fragrant. Flowering is usually cyclic, 2-5 years.
• BUDS: Hidden by leaf petiole, brownish black, covered with dense hairs.
• BARK: Smooth, gray, beechlike. Freshly cut heartwood is yellow. Crushed twig smells like dried beans.
• FRUIT: Panicles of 1" - 1 1/2" long, whitish gray pods.
• PROPAGATION: Seed, cuttings.
• PESTS: None serious.
• CULTIVARS: