Yellowwood

Cladrastis kentukea

Dimensions:

• Height: 50’

• Mature spread: 40’ - 55’

• Trunk Diameter: 1.5’ - 2’

Habitat and Range:

• native Kentucky populations are scattered and fairly rare

• often associated with limestone rocky ledges, and soils in river valleys, slopes and ridges

Features:

• named for its unique yellow heartwood

• planted as an ornamental tree; has naturalized beyond its original range

• usually is multi-trunked

• can withstand urban locations and poor soils; likes full sun

• has showy long, white, pea-like flowers in drooping clusters which are vanilla scented

• “cladrastis” means “fragile branch,” as its twigs are brittle

History:

• largest US specimen is just across the Ohio River from Kentucky, in Cincinnati’s Spring Grove Cemetery

• used to make a yellow dye by early European settlers