Kentucky yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea
Last reviewed: September 2026
Cladrastis kentukea is a deciduous shade tree valued for its smooth gray bark and fragrant white flower clusters that open in May and June. It grows best in full sun with evenly moist, well-drained soil.
Toxicity unknown
Kentucky yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
360"–600" H × 360"–540" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, AR, CT, GA and 17 more states
Pollinators
bumble bees, carpenter bees
Before you buy
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A medium shade tree with smooth gray bark, bright green compound leaves, and long drooping chains of fragrant white pea flowers in early summer. Fall color is clear yellow. It blooms heavily on a two to three year cycle.
Growing Kentucky yellowwood
Grow Kentucky yellowwood in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 360 to 600 inches tall and spread 360 to 540 inches wide.
Wildlife value
The pendant flower chains are a major early-summer nectar source for large bees.
Common questions
- When does Kentucky yellowwood bloom?
- Kentucky yellowwood blooms in May and June, producing long, drooping clusters of fragrant white flowers that can be six to fourteen inches long.
- What pollinates Kentucky yellowwood flowers?
- Bumble bees and carpenter bees are the primary visitors to Kentucky yellowwood flowers, drawn to the abundant nectar in the pea-like blossoms.
- How much sun and water does Kentucky yellowwood need?
- This tree flowers most heavily in full sun and does best with medium, consistent soil moisture rather than extremes of wet or dry conditions.
- What growing conditions does Kentucky yellowwood prefer?
- It grows well in deep, fertile, well-drained soils and is often planted in parks and large yards where its rounded canopy and fragrant late spring flowers can be appreciated.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Kentucky yellowwood? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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