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Cladrastis spp.
yellowwood
Eastern North America and eastern Asia
Overview
Cladrastis is a small genus of about five species of deciduous trees in the pea family, Fabaceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia. Trees grow 30-50 feet (9-15 m) tall with a broad, rounded crown of smooth gray bark and bright green pinnate leaves divided into 5-11 leaflets that turn clear yellow in autumn. In late spring or early summer, drooping clusters 8-14 inches (20-35 cm) long carry many fragrant pea-shaped flowers, white in the American yellowwood (C. kentukea) and white to pink in several Asian species. The flowers are followed by flat, thin seed pods 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. Heavy flowering tends to occur every second or third year rather than annually. The freshly cut heartwood is yellow and was once used as a dye, giving the genus its common name. The wood is brittle and the trunk often forks low with narrow, included bark, so branches can split under ice or wind. Trees grow in well-drained soil on slopes and bluffs and adapt to a range of garden conditions. Late frosts can damage the early foliage and flower buds.
Native Range
Cladrastis is native to eastern North America and eastern Asia, a disjunct distribution split between the two continents. The single North American species, C. kentukea, grows on limestone slopes and stream bluffs of the southeastern United States, while the remaining species occur in China and Japan.Suggested Uses
Cladrastis is grown as a shade and specimen tree in parks, large gardens, and street settings where its rounded crown and early-summer flowers suit open lawns. The fragrant flowers draw bees, and the smooth bark and yellow fall colour extend the seasonal display. Its brittle wood makes it less suited to sites exposed to frequent storms.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height30' - 50'
Width/Spread30' - 55'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pinkFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Cladrastis grows in full sun in deep, well-drained soil across a wide pH range, including alkaline limestone soils. Young trees establish slowly and benefit from staking and shelter while the crown develops. Once established, plants tolerate drought, heat, and urban conditions, though they grow poorly in wet or compacted ground. The brittle wood and low forking habit mean trees can lose branches in storms, so early training to a strong framework reduces later damage. Hardiness runs through USDA zones 4-8. Trees reach flowering size in about 8-10 years from seed.Pruning
Prune only in summer after flowering, since Cladrastis bleeds sap heavily if cut in late winter or spring. Train young trees to a single leader with well-spaced branches to reduce the weak forks the genus is prone to. Remove crossing or narrowly angled limbs while they are small.Pruning Schedule
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summer