Cladrastis kentukea (American Yellowwood)

Cladrastis kentukea, also called American yellowwood, is a medium to large deciduous tree native to the Smokey Mountains and the Ozarks. Growing to 30-50' tall and 40-50' wide, though occasionally as large as 80' by 60', American yellowwood draws its common name from a yellow dye contained within that results in the tree's heartwood having a rich yellow hue. Noted for its attractive, fragrant, creamy-white flower panicles in the spring and early summer, Cladrastis kentukea is sure to delight both local wildlife and anyone who catches its sweet aroma on the air. Fragrant flowers and rich pollen deposits are especially attractive to a number of different pollinators, and good branching angles makes the tree desirable to songbirds as a nesting site; bright yellow fall foliage also adds a ton of multi-season interest and bright yellow mature wood lends itself well to carpentry projects too.

Cladrastis kentukea grows best in loamy, well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade; while American yellowwood prefers moist soils, it is also drought tolerate once established. This tree's drought tolerance is, in part, due to a deep taproot that makes the tree difficult to move once established, so picking a good planting location away from wells and underground pipes the first time around is key. Cladrastis kentukea is naturally very low maintenance, provides a ton of interest for gardeners and pollinators, and its deep roots means that it works great alongside shade plants planted underneath its canopy. Because it gets along so well with smaller underplantings and because its flowers are so attractive to pollinators, American yellowwood works great as a specimen tree, as a shade tree, or as an ecologically focused choice for large backyards and open forest sites.