Kentucky yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea · Fabaceae
📷 Ulf Eliasson · CC BY 2.5
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around kentucky yellowwood and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- May to June, fragrant white flowers in clusters
- Adult size
- 10 m tall, rounded habit
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -25°C
- Origin
- North America (Kentucky, Tennessee)
- Soil type
- Well-drained soil, slightly acidic to neutral
- Family
- Fabaceae (legumes)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Cladrastis kentukea grows slowly but surely in full sun. Don't try to densify it: it has a naturally airy and elegant habit.
The common mistake
People prune it too much or too early to force it to thicken, which delays maturation and creates scars.
The pro's trick
Plant it as a specimen where it can express itself in silhouette: this is an ornamental tree, not a hedge.
Care
Sunlight
Plant your cladrastis in full sun to encourage generous flowering and a balanced habit. It tolerates light partial shade but will flower less abundantly. Avoid overly windy locations that could damage its branches.
Watering
Water regularly during the first spring and summer after planting. Once established, cladrastis is drought-tolerant and only needs occasional watering during very dry periods. In humid climates, natural rainfall is usually sufficient.
Soil and preparation
Prepare well-drained soil enriched with organic matter at planting time. Cladrastis prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH. Avoid heavy, compacted soils that retain water, which can cause root rot.
Pruning and maintenance
Pruning is generally not necessary; let your cladrastis develop naturally. Remove dead or poorly oriented branches in late winter. Wait until the tree is well established before any structural pruning to avoid compromising its form.
Fertilizing
As a legume, cladrastis naturally enriches the soil with nitrogen. Fertilizer is not essential. A well-decomposed compost at the base in spring is sufficient to support its growth.
Diseases and pests
Cladrastis is very resistant and rarely suffers from disease. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. Occasionally watch for aphids in spring, which are easily controlled with a water spray or biological treatments if necessary.
Did you know?
The Kentucky cladrastis is prized for its spectacular clusters of fragrant white flowers that appear between May and June. It's rare for a tree to flower abundantly every year; some years it produces exceptional flowering while others are more modest, a natural phenomenon that botanists call 'alternate bearing'. In autumn, its deciduous foliage turns golden yellow, offering dual seasonal appeal that makes it a precious choice for temperate climate gardens.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.