Scientific Name
Cladrastis kentukea
Here we have another tree from the large pea (legume) family of plants, this one native to a small and scattered range mostly in Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Though it has some very good attributes as a shade tree, and there are a few old ones in the region, it’s only fairly recently that it’s begun to be planted extensively in Colorado. The current Colorado champion, which we estimate to be close to 100 years old, is 55 feet tall, but the runner up is just 38 feet tall. The tree is generally moderate in size and is adapted to varied soils. It’s also far more cold-hardy than one would guess from considering its native haunts.
The leaves of yellowwood are compound and about 8 to 12 inches long, the leaflets being relatively broad and slightly offset from each other on the midribs, the bases of which flare to hide the buds. The most ornamental feature of yellowwood is the fragrant white flower display in late spring (there is also a pink-flowered cultivar) that can be spectacular in alternate years. Secondary ornamental attributes are its smooth, light gray bark reminiscent of beech and its yellow or golden fall color. The fruit, as usual for pea family plants, is a pod about 3 inches long containing numerous seeds. The name of the tree comes from the color of the heartwood.