American Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) reveals a graceful presence through its smooth gray bark, warm golden fall leaves, and drooping clusters of sweetly scented white blooms in late spring. Each flower panicle can reach 8–14 inches in length, creating a showy wisteria-like effect, on a moderate-sized tree suitable for smaller yards. Its broad, rounded canopy becomes even more striking in autumn, when the foliage takes on brilliant hues of yellow and sometimes orange. This legume-family tree also produces small, ornamental seed pods. It is highly attractive to bees and other pollinators, and can also provide nesting habitats for birds, blending beauty and wildlife value.
American Yellowwood stands out for its resilience, tolerating moderately dry sites once established and handling a variety of soil pH levels, including some alkalinity. It is native to eastern and central North America, where it thrives in well-draining, rich soils along river valleys and slopes. It stays under 50 feet tall and can serve as a graceful shade provider, focal specimen, or a grouping in woodland edges. Low branching and a deep root system allow a range of shade-loving plants to flourish underneath, giving Yellowwood a unique advantage over less accommodating species.
American Yellowwood Care
American Yellowwood prefers a location with at least four to six hours of direct sunlight, though it tolerates partial shade in hotter zones. Plant in moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, and avoid cramped or poorly drained areas where roots may struggle. Water regularly during the first few years to establish a strong root system; once settled, this tree copes with short dry spells. An all-purpose, balanced fertilizer in early spring can help younger trees develop more vigorous foliage and blooming. Add mulch around the base to conserve moisture and reduce fluctuations in soil temperature, particularly helpful in cooler or drought-prone regions.
Pruning is usually minimal. If shaping is needed, concentrate on thinning weak or inward-growing limbs to maintain a balanced structure—ideally done in late spring or early summer to avoid excessive sap flow. Container growth is possible, but less common since Yellowwood develops a deep root system and may become root-bound over time. For container culture, monitor watering closely and consider root-pruning every few years if you wish to maintain it at a smaller size.
American Yellowwood Spacing
For a row or living screen, allow 20 to 30 feet between trees so their canopies can merge gracefully without overcrowding. As a single specimen or in mixed plantings, provide at least 30 feet of open space to highlight its elegant branching and drooping flower clusters. In a large container, start with a pot diameter of at least 24 inches, upgrading to a wider pot as the root mass expands. This spacing encourages healthy growth and the striking seasonal display for which American Yellowwood is known.
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Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
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Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
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Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
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Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations