Bloomipedia
American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
Photo: Dominic via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering tree

American yellowwood

Cladrastis kentukea

🌷 Flowering treeNative in the lower 48

American yellowwood is a popular flowering tree. It's on our flower lists for 38 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

21states
38of our state lists
796U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Planted garden trees are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Cladrastis kentukea, the Kentucky yellowwood or American yellowwood, is a species of Cladrastis native to the Southeastern United States, with a restricted range from western North Carolina west to eastern Oklahoma, and from southern Missouri and Indiana south to central Alabama. Historically, the tree was placed into the genus Virgilia, not to be confused with the present genus of African legume trees by that name.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 21 states. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 40 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 197 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #114 among the 182 flowers on our Tennessee list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 109 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #129 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 86 research-grade sightings of it in Kentucky, ranking #110 among the 178 flowers on our Kentucky list. iNaturalist

American yellowwood gift ideas

Handmade american yellowwood gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (45 records)
Bloom time in each of our 38 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records197
New York🌷 Gardenfew records109
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records86
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records54
Indiana🌷 Gardenfew records51
Arkansas🌷 Gardenfew records49
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records41
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records40
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records39
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records32
Illinois🌷 Gardenfew records16
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records13
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records12
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenfew records10
Missouri🌷 Gardenfew records7
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenfew records6
Vermont🌷 Gardenfew records5
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records4
Mississippi🌷 Gardenfew records4
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records4
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records3
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenfew records2
Minnesota🌷 Gardenfew records1
South Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records1
Washington🌷 Gardenfew records1
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records1
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenfew records0
California🌷 Gardenfew records0
Colorado🌷 Gardenfew records0
Connecticut🌷 Gardenfew records0
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records0
Iowa🌷 Gardenfew records0
Idaho🌷 Gardenfew records0
Kansas🌷 Gardenfew records0
Maine🌷 Gardenfew records0
Nebraska🌷 Gardenfew records0
Oregon🌷 Gardenfew records0
Utah🌷 Gardenfew records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Resolved Taxon,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Indiana.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S2, imperiled in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Alabama.
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. MESA list
Illinois
State endangered On Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist: state endangered. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe has no Maryland rank for it. COMAR 08.03.08
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Oklahoma.
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe has no Wisconsin rank for it. NR 27.03
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe has no Vermont rank for it. Vermont E&T list
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe has no Michigan rank for it. R 299.1028
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: S2, imperiled in Mississippi.
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe has no New Jersey rank for it. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe has no Minnesota rank for it. Minn. R. 6134.0300
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in South Carolina.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe has no West Virginia rank for it.
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe has no New Hampshire rank for it. NH Ncr 312
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe has no California rank for it. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe has no Colorado rank for it.
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe has no Delaware rank for it. DE rare plants 2024
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe has no Iowa rank for it. IAC 571-77.3
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe has no Idaho rank for it.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe has no Kansas rank for it.
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe has no Nebraska rank for it. 163 NAC 4-004
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe has no Oregon rank for it. OAR 603-073-0070
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe has no Utah rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: LA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on Illinois's rare plant list (state endangered); NatureServe ranks it S3 in Kentucky, S1 in Indiana, S2 in North Carolina, S3 in Alabama, S1 in Illinois, S3 in Georgia, S1 in Oklahoma, S3 in Missouri, S2 in Mississippi and S1 in South Carolina. IL E&T checklist 2025 NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records American yellowwood in 21 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia.

Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Cannon, Cheatham, Claiborne, Cocke, Davidson, DeKalb, Dyer, Fentress, Franklin, Grundy, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Obion, Overton, Polk, Putnam, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, White, Williamson.

New York counties with USDA records: Bronx, Ulster, Warren.

Kentucky counties with USDA records: Bell, Boone, Boyle, Carroll, Casey, Estill, Fulton, Gallatin, Garrard, Jessamine, Kenton, Madison, McCreary, Mercer, Pendleton, Pulaski, Todd, Wayne, Whitley.

More Tennessee flowers

Sources