Yellowwood
Arbor Walk #21, Treekeeper ID #1882
This medium sized shade tree has panicles of sweet smelling flowers in early summer and brilliant yellow leaves in the fall.
The Yellowwood typically grows up to around 30 to 50 feet, with a lifespan under 100 years. Mainly used for decorative purposes, its white flowers hang in clusters in the spring. There are multiple trunks coming off of its main one, making it susceptible to storm damage, so it needs to be pruned and maintained to ensure the tree limbs do not break.
| Common Name | Yellowwood |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Cladrastis kentukea |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Somers Family Hall, 8.89 m | McDonnell Hall, 15.34 m | Wilson Hall, 53.39 m |
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Magnolia spp., 15.76 m | Northern Red Oak, 16.61 m | Magnolia spp., 22.78 m |
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Caliper (m) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 9.2586 | 32 | N/A | 9.42 | 10.05 | 9.735 |
| 2023 | 12.3 | 37 | N/A | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.15 |
| 2024 | 11.02 | 37.5 | N/A | 11.33 | 11.05 | 11.19 |
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Grey, green, and yellow lichen on trunk bark. |
ts have variable shape but are 3-4″, dark green above and pale green below, with a slightly acuminate tip. The leaf can reach 1′ in length, and the leaflets will turn yellow in the fall.
Twig and Bud Identification
Young twigs are soft and hairy, although they lose the hair over time. Mature twigs are dark reddish-brown with pale lenticels (pores). The leaf scars are cream-colored and bowl-shaped. The terminal buds are conical, yellowish-brown, and concealed within the terminal petiole until it breaks off in the fall.
Bark Identification
The bark of the Yellowwood is generally smooth, often lichen-covered, and can have “etchings” or other irregular raised bumps along its surface.
Fruit Identification
The fruit of the Yellowwood is a flat, slender pod holding multiple seeds. The pods are light brown when mature and up to 4″ in length. The fruits ripen in late summer.
Flower Identification
The flowers of the Yellowwood are mounted on long hanging panicles, with compound peduncles branching off of the main peduncle, holding flowers on shorter pedicels. The flowers are white, fragrant, and irregularly five-petaled (though they may appear to have only four). The flowers bloom in late spring.
