Photograph coming soon
Cladrastis kentukea
Multi-stem Trees
Cladrastis kentukea
Kentucky yellowwood
Hanging chains of fragrant white flowers in early summer, smooth grey bark and clear yellow autumn colour. Cladrastis kentukea is a rare and graceful tree for those in the know.
Fragrant, wisteria-like white flowers in early summer
Smooth, silver-grey bark
Bright yellow autumn colour
Graceful, rounded canopy
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Multi-stem tree
Foliage
Deciduous
Seasons of interest
Early summer flowers, autumn colour, winter bark
Eventual size
Typically 8 to 12 m tall in time
Position
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, including chalk
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of sizes and forms. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
Yellowwood is one of the most elegant flowering trees you can grow, with long, scented chains of white flowers that hang like wisteria in early summer.
Its smooth grey bark and buttery autumn colour give it real presence across the seasons, and it is still a rare sight in British gardens.
How to use it
Give it space as a feature tree on a lawn or in a larger garden, where the flowers and autumn colour can be enjoyed.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring in a sunny spot and water through the first two summers. Prune only in summer, as it bleeds sap if cut in winter or spring.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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It flowers in early summer once established. Young trees can take a few years to flower freely.
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Prune in summer only. Cutting in winter or spring causes the tree to bleed sap.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Yes, and we would love you to. Every multi-stem tree is individual, with its own branch structure and character, so we always encourage customers to choose by eye. Our largest specimens are held at our Row Town showroom in Surrey. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists. If you can’t visit, we are happy to send photographs of individual trees.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger specimens can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed. We will always agree the most suitable option with you before delivery.
All our multi-stem trees
Explore every tree in our multi-stem trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
Cladrastis kentukea
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.