American Yellowwood
Cladrastis kentuckea

Foliage: Bluish-Green
Fall Foliage: Yellow, Scarlett
Fruit: Pods
Habit/Form: Upright, Spreading
Uses​: Accent Tree, Specimen, Shade Tree​

Zone Hardiness:  4
Plant Height: 40 - 50 ft 
Plant Width: 20 - 30 ft 
Light: Sun
​​Growth Rate: Fast​

A Japanese and Chinese native, the 'Katsura' tree is special in many ways, one being that the famous Michael Dirr notes the katsura as one of his favorite trees. Many of us have come to trust Dirr’s knowledge, so this should be the only seal of approval we need. Narrow, columnar when young becoming wider with maturity. The heart-shaped new leaves emerge a brilliant reddish-purple and change to bluish-green in summer. Fall color varies from yellow to scarlet. One of the most notable aspects of fall leaf change is the sweet aroma that emits. It is commonly described as a caramel scent but has also been described as smelling of burnt sugar, cinnamon, cotton candy, or ripe apples. The bark is light gray and flaky to slightly shaggy. With all of these descriptions in mind, you can likely tell that the katsura is an excellent specimen tree that adds color and interest to a landscape. That is, as long as you take into consideration that they need full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Dirr does note that a more acidic soil can help this tree produce better fall color. ​