Habitat

• relatively small portions of the southeastern United States; scattered and not common throughout range
• hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• a deciduous medium-sized tree
• develops a broad, rounded crown
• branches are upright and spreading
• has a short main trunk with major branches starting within 6' of the ground

Summer Foliage

• alternate, pinnately compound leaves
• 7 to 9 leaflets per leaf
• leaves 8" to 12" long
• leaflets are 2" to 3" long
• leaflets are elliptic to ovate
• terminal leaflet is the largest
• leaf color is bright green, almost with a tinge of blue

Autumn Foliage

• soft mix of yellow, gold and orange
• showy on most trees

Flowers

• white, pea-like flowers
• fragrant
• in 10" to 16" long clusters
• bloom time is early June
• resembles wisteria flowers
• blooms heavily every 2 or 3 years

Fruit

• a flattened pod
• 2.5" to 4" long
• green pods turn brown in October

Bark

• smooth light gray
• quite attractive
• name yellowwood comes from the yellow heartwood

Culture

• full sun
• likes moist, fertile, well-drained soils
• not too particular about pH
• prune in summer to avoid "bleeding" that occurs in winter and spring
• protect from winter sun and wind

Landscape Uses

• lawn tree
• specimen
• for flowers and foliage
• for attractive winter bark
• for attractive fall foliage

Liabilities

• "bleeds when pruned at most times
• narrow branch angles make the tree prone to splitting
• getting consistent annual bloom can be challenging
• bark is susceptible to sun scaled
• late spring frosts damage new growth

ID Features

• has naked buds
• base of petiole covers the bud
• smooth gray bark
• pinnately compound leaves with large leaflets
• fruit pod is somewhat persistent
• bud is hairy
• short main trunk
• upright and spreading branches in almost a vase-shape
• wisteria-like chains of flowers

Propagation

• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

'Rosea' (also known as 'Perkin's Pink') - A special, rare pink-flowered form found in Watertown, MA and offered by numerous specialty nurseries. A new twist on a wonderful native tree.