Cladrastis kentukeaIndiana NativeIndiana Native
American Yellowwood

 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
White (Fragrant, white wisteria-like flowers (1-1.25" long) in 8-14" long panicles in spring)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Dense, dark green summer foliage); Gold (Yellow to golden-yellow fall foliage)
 Stem Notes:
slender, zig-zag, smooth, bright reddish brown, odor and taste of beans or peas
 Fruit Notes:
Brown (Flat pods in October, hard-coated seeds; not ornamentally important)
 Ultimate Height:
30-50 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
40-55 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Very tolerant of soil type
 Range:
North Carolina to Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee
 Maintenance:
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Odd-pinnately compound leaves (8-12" long). Leaflets (7-9, each 2-3" long) are elliptic to ovate with terminal the largest. Petal base encloses bud. Terminal bud abscent. Bright reddish-brown twigs. Yellowish coloration often appears on smooth gray bark, especially near crotches. Heartwood is yellow.

Additional Information

A highly ornamental native tree, even though the pendulous clusters of flowers do not appear in great numbers every year. Well-adapted to Midwest conditions. Develops a tap root. Does not flower fully each year; part of a tree may flower one year, part the next, but the effect is striking even when only certain branches bear flowers. Bees are attracted to the flowers. Flowers appear only after many years from seed. Avoid pruning in spring or there will be much bleeding (sap flow) over the bark.

When Cladrastis kentukea has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Fruiting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

123 Cladrastis kentukea found

Building Map...

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= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
1ORIG_4359*AWILY
22018_00932*AWDC
32014_00037*AEE
4ORIG_4344*AWILY
Heritage Plant
52015_00691*AWILY
62018_0052*APHYS
7ORIG_4332*ATARK
82013_00706*AHORTPARK
9ORIG_2981*AHIKS
102014_00011*APSYC
112018_00743*APGG
122018_00742*APGG
132018_01033*AWINPARK
142018_00683*ABELL
152014_00011*BMATH
162018_00813*ASC
17ORIG_5238*ASCPA
18ORIG_2173*AEE
Heritage Plant
19ORIG_4354*AWILY
202009_13945*AHORTPARK
212012_00448*APMU
222018_00932*BWDC
232013_00520*AHORTPARK
242016_00039*AAGAD
252021_00078*AWDCT
262022_00549*AHOCK
272022_00502*AHILL
282022_00440*AMRDH
292023_00048*APUSH
Heritage Plant
Dedicated/Memorial Plant
302023_00055*AHA32
312023_00059*ACQS
322023_00084*APAO
332023_00084*BPAO
342023_00084*CHAWK
352023_00084*DHAWK
362023_00084*ENLSN
372023_00084*FPGW
382023_00084*GPGW
392023_00084*HPGW
402023_00138*AWARN
412023_00189*ASHRV
422023_00189*BSHRV
432023_00189*CSHRV
442023_00225*AWARN
452023_00225*BMRDH
462023_00225*CMRDH
472023_00225*DMRDH
482023_00225*EMRDH
492023_00225*FSMLY
502023_00225*GSMLY
512023_00225*HSMLY
522023_00294*ALILY
532023_00294*BSMTH
542023_00371*ADLR
552023_00371*BBIND
562023_00371*CTERY
572023_00371*DTERY
582023_00371*ETERY
592023_00371*FTERY
602023_00371*GBIND
612023_00425*APMU
622023_00518*ACONT
632023_00518*BCONT
642023_00518*CCONT
652023_00518*DCONT
662023_00518*ECONT
672023_00518*FCONT
682023_00544*ACARY
692023_00572*AHORTPARK
702023_00580*ACARY
712023_00639*ATARK
722023_00639*CHILL
732023_00655*ATARK
742023_00655*BTARK
752023_00663*AABE
762023_00732*BPJEC
772023_00732*DPJEC
782023_00732*EPJEC
792024_00048*AHORTPARK
802024_00153*APVAB
812024_00153*BPVAB
822024_00153*CPVAB
832024_00153*DPVAB
842024_00153*EPVAB
852024_00153*FPVAB
862024_00153*GPVAB
872024_00153*HPVAB
882024_00153*IPVAB
892024_00153*JPVAB
902024_00153*KPVAB
912024_00176*APVAB
922024_00176*BPVAB
932024_00176*CPVAB
942024_00176*DPVAB
952024_00176*EPVAB
962024_00176*FPVAB
972024_00176*GPVAB
982024_00176*HPVAB
992024_00176*IPVAB
1002024_00176*JPVAB
1012024_00176*KPVAB
1022024_00176*LPVAB
1032024_00176*MPVAB
1042024_00176*NPVAB
1052024_00176*OPVAB
1062024_00176*PPVAB
1072024_00180*APVAB
1082024_00180*BPVAB
1092024_00180*CPVAB
1102024_00180*DPVAB
1112024_00180*EPVAB
1122024_00180*FPVAB
1132024_00180*GPVAB
1142024_00180*HPVAB
1152024_00180*IPVAB
1162024_00180*JPVAB
1172024_00180*KPVAB
1182024_00180*LPVAB
1192024_00230*AChaf
1202024_00230*BChaf
1212024_00230*CChaf
1222024_00263*ATARK
1232025_00057*APMU

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