Taxonomy
| Clade | angiosperm |
|---|
| Family | Fabaceae |
|---|
| Genus | Cladrastis |
|---|
| Species | kentukea |
|---|
| Common Name | American yellowwood |
|---|
| iTree Code | CLKE |
|---|
Plant Form
| Form | Tree: often branching low, with broad/rounded crown |
|---|
| Height | 40 feet |
|---|
| Spread | 55 feet |
|---|
| Deciduous | Yes |
|---|
Identification Description
| Foliage | green, oval leaflets (5-9), alternately arranged with terminal leaflet, bulbous stem base encapsulating the buds |
Leaf Type
 |
Compound - Pinnate |
|---|
| Bark | silver-gray, sometimes a blackened color, smooth, slightly rougher with age |
|---|
| Bud | false terminal bud, fuzzy; golden brown, hidden under the leaf stem |
Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
|---|
| Twig | current year chocolate brown, then gray; zig-zag appearance |
|---|
| Flower | white clusters 12-14 inch long, drooping, fragrant |
|---|
| Fruit | pods hanging in clusters, legumes (4") |
|---|
| Fall Color | yellow |
|---|
Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance |
| Min | 4b |
Min | 4.5 |
Soil | Moderate |
| Max | 8a |
Max | 8.0 |
Spray | Moderate |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
| Intermediate |
Moderate |
Unknown |
