Tree of the Month: Yellowwood Tree
A relatively uncommon but increasingly popular tree, the American yellowwood is a beautiful native canopy species that offers the local ecosystem a lot to appreciate, including cascading spring flowers and a full, wide crown. Hardy in urban conditions and comfortable in Nashville’s limestone soil, this is a tree we’re excited to see more of in the landscape!
Characteristics of the Yellowwood Tree
The yellowwood tree (Cladrastis kentukea) is a medium-sized canopy species, growing 30 to 50 feet tall with a potential spread equal to its height (making it a great shade tree). When planted in a yard or park with open space to grow, yellowwood trees spread their limbs to create a full, rounded crown
This species has a low branching habit and tends to grow multiple lead branches from a short trunk, supporting its wide form. The yellowwood is related to the Kentucky coffee tree, and like the coffee tree, yellowwood branches are bare on the interior of the crown, displaying its interesting structural shape both with and without its leaves. The yellowwood tree’s bark is flat and tight against the wood, like a beech tree, adding to this tree’s allure.
Also like the coffee tree, the yellowwood has compound leaves: up to 12-inch stems with multiple broad, oval leaflets (usually five to nine per leaf) that alternate along a central stem. In the fall, yellowwood tree leaves turn bright yellow and deep gold before they drop off for the winter.
In late spring, yellowwood trees blossom, producing fragrant, gentle white flowers that hang in long clusters from the branches, resembling wisteria (which is a member of the legume family, Fabaceae, along with the Kentucky coffee tree). Like its relatives, the yellowwood tree grows seed pods over the summer, each about two to four inches long, which dry out over the fall and drop with the leaves before winter.
Why Are Yellowwood Trees Rare?
Yellowwood trees have a limited natural range, with particular preferences that result in this tree being found in small populations sparsely spread across the interior of the southeastern US (including Tennessee and Kentucky). Yellowwoods prefer limestone soil and sloping, well-draining ground. They grow at a medium rate and have low seed production, which results in a slow natural regeneration.
Due to their isolated populations, yellowwoods are considered rare in the wild, but this species is an increasingly popular native option as a landscaping tree for its ecological benefits and visual interest in every season.
Yellowwoods in Nashville’s Ecosystem
As a native species, the American yellowwood is a wonderful tree for wildlife! The yellowwood’s spring flowers attract bees, butterflies, and moths, while the tree’s warm-weather greenery provides nutrition for caterpillars and cover for birds and mammals. The seed pods are also edible by wildlife.
While the tree has some urban hardiness, it shouldn’t be planted along hard surfaces like roads, sidewalks, and driveways. Droppage from flowers and pods can become messy, and the tree’s shallow root system, which helps the tree absorb surface water quickly in its well-draining environment, can become a problem under pavement.
Like other canopy trees, the yellowwood offers a variety of ecosystem services that make a robust and biodiverse canopy so important, including temperature and moisture moderation, rainwater management, and wildlife habitat.
Why Is the Tree Called Yellowwood?
The yellowwood tree gets its name from the bright yellow color of its interior wood. Some of the chemical compounds that the yellowwood tree produces in high quantities for protection from UV rays and pests have a yellow color, which accumulates as heartwood over the years as the tree grows. Historically, the tree’s wood was used to make yellow dye for cloth as well as wooden items that retain the rich hue. Today, we also appreciate yellowwood for its environmental contributions, such as ecosystem services and its golden autumnal foliage.
Plant a Yellowwood in Nashville’s Landscape
While this tree is not currently for sale through NTCC, we have had it available in the past (this year, we haven't been able to source it). Keep an eye out for it in the future, as we love this tree and are eager to share it with fellow Nashvillians. And in the meantime, browse the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps’ tree sale to find the next specimen addition to your yard! You can also donate a tree for us to plant or sign up to volunteer and help us out with planting and canopy care around Nashville. We accept and appreciate financial donations, which are an important part of funding for our mission to help support Nashville’s canopy.
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