May Tree of the Month-Yellowwood
Yellowwood, Cladrasis kentukea, is a blooming tree with a mind of its own when it comes to flowering. Maturity can take 8-10 years, and when it does start flowering, it’s not every year. Well worth the finicky blooming because the flowers are outstanding, hanging down like white wisteria panicles all over the tree. But wait, there’s more…the flowers are fragrant!
The common name comes from the dye that colors the tree’s heartwood. Fall color is a decent yellow, and the bark is so smooth you just have to touch it. Once the flowers fade, small seed pods develop and hang on the tree until ripe.
Yellowwood prefers full sun but will tolerate part-shade and appreciates some protection from strong winds. Well-drained soil is best, but yellowwood will tolerate dry soil once established.
Size can reach 30-50′ high and equally as wide as it matures, making it an excellent shade tree. MBG states it makes a good patio tree but be prepared for a lot of clean-up once the flowers begin to fade and drop. However, petal-drop can be quite enchanting in the garden as the petals fall with just the slightest breeze, creating a snow-like fairyland in spring.
Why I love this plant-
-Although not a Missouri native, it’s native to the south-eastern US and does well here.
-No serious disease or pest issues.
-The outstanding fragrant white flowers.
-Beautiful, smooth bark.
-Nice yellow fall color.
-Great shade tree.
-Yellowwood is a Missouri Botanical Garden Plant of Merit.
What’s not so great?
–Yellowwood must be pruned in summer to avoid ‘bleeding.’
-The smooth, thin bark is prone to sun scald, so take precautions until the canopy is wide enough to shade the trunk.
-Branches are brittle and prone to breakage in intense storms.
-Can be messy when the petals drop, as are the seeds that follow.
-Not considered a long-lived tree in St. Louis.
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Words and photos by Jo Batzer
© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com-2023, All rights reserved.
