Cladrastis kentukea
Kentucky yellowwood · also American yellowwood, Gopherwood, Yellow ash
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Cladrastis kentukea, or Kentucky yellowwood, is a deciduous tree native to the Southeastern United States, recognized by its open, rounded canopy of broad, feathery leaves that turn yellow in fall. It produces fragrant white flowers in late spring and is notable for its smooth gray bark. While drought tolerant once established, its brittle branches require protection from strong winds.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 1,9260.28%—2.4 in
- 1,0720.54%1.9 yr2.0 in
- 8090.11%—6.0 in
- 5170.15%3.3 yr2.0 in
- 3910.33%4.5 yr4.1 in
- 3090.11%—2.0 in
- 1170.16%7.8 yr2.3 in
- 990.05%—3.0 in
- 870.03%26 yr5.9 in
- 860.03%—3.0 in
- 860.55%20 yr10 in
- 740.21%—2.0 in
- 630.03%—5.6 in
- 380.08%—1.6 in
- 90.08%6.8 yr2.0 in
- 60.01%16 yr2.0 in
- 10.00%——
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 30–50 ft
- Canopy spread
- 30–55 ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- May, Jun
Trunk diameters across every city: median 2.0 in, mean 3.7 in, 90th percentile 7.9 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- Mississippi lowland forests
Other Cladrastis in the catalogue
3 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
