American yellowwood is a four-season tree, but May flowers on pendulous panicles are its most dazzling characteristic. There's an arm's length of positive attributes to describe it, but propagation difficulties make it a hard-to-find and underused tree.

Carlton Plants in Dayton, Ore., grows and sells liners, but struggles with inventory because it's so hard to propagate, said Dick Bocci, Carlton sales manager.

"It's not always easy to keep up with demand," he said. "Even with an acid soak, the seed is still difficult to germinate and it's not the easiest plant to bud."

Carlton also buds a pink-flowered form called 'Perkins Pink.'

Post-propagation pluses

But difficulties end at the young stage, because liners transplant well, and it's a hardy, clean tree.

"It's a great tree that's pretty easy to grow," said Lance Platts, field production manager at Breezy Hill Nursery in Salem, Wis. "But it's not a fast grower like a locust or a linden."

The nursery discontinued it because there wasn't a lot of demand for it from retail customers, Platts said.

"There seems to be more demand for it in the Chicago area," Platts said. "I think it will catch on more in the future."

From a 6-inch whip, Breezy Hill grew 2 1/2-inch to 3 1/2-inch balled-and-burlapped trees in single-trunk and multistemmed forms.

Versatile choice

American yellowwood is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8, and it grows in full sun to part shade. It's adaptable to acid and alkaline soils and is not associated with any pests or diseases.

"Its versatility reminds me of an American beech," Platts said. "I never saw a problem with a pest or disease while I had it in production."

American yellowwood features soft-yellow fall foliage and smooth winter bark.

Cherry Creek Nursery in Cookeville, Tenn., grows a single-trunk, B&B American yellowwood.

"But to keep it straight, we grow it for two years, then cut it off," owner Alan Carter said. "Then we grow it for another five years, which gets us to a 2 1/2-inch or 3-inch caliper tree."

Carter said it's worth the extra effort.

"It's a long-lived, upper-story tree, and nothing compares to it when it's in bloom," Carter said.

Cherry Creek grows American yellowwood in sandy loam soils in full sun.

"I've seen them growing on red hills and river bottoms in the wild," Carter said.

In the landscape, plant it as a specimen. "The flowers are better viewed from underneath. And it provides a different texture than other trees because it's not a deep, thick shade," Carter said.

— Kelli Rodda

SPECIFICS:
Name: Cladrastis kentukea
Common name: American yellowwood.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8.
Size: 30-50 feet tall.
Form: Upright branching and a broad, rounded crown.
Propagation: By seed.
Pruning: Prune only in summer. Severe bleeding may occur other times of the year.
For more: Carlton Plants, 14301 S.E. Wallace Road, Dayton, OR 97114; (800) 398-8733; www.carltonplants.com. Breezy Hill Nursery, 7530 288th Ave., Salem, WI 53168; www.breezyhillnursery.com. Cherry Creek Nursery, 3600 Valley View Road, Cookeville, TN 38506; (931) 526-7682; www.cherrycreeknursery.com.

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© 2006 Branch-Smith Publishing