Yellowwood

Here stands the American Yellowwood, or Cladrastis kentukea. It's a rare native tree of the eastern U.S., named for its yellow heartwood. It grows up to 60 feet tall with a broad, rounded crown and a short, divided trunk. In May, it produces large clusters of fragrant white flowers resembling wisteria. The bark was once used by pioneers to make yellow dye, and its wood was valued for gunstocks. Yellowwood grows slowly and is short-lived, rarely surviving beyond 150 years. It prefers well-drained, streamside soils with some shade but can also grow in full sun. It does not tolerate drought or flooding and offers little wildlife value due to its rarity in natural habitats. Pruning is important early on to prevent low branching. In fall, its foliage turns bright yellow, and the smooth gray bark offers year-round appeal. Leaves are singly compound with 7–9 leaflets, and its thin, papery, tan seed pods persist through winter.