rarely seen

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Kentucky Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)

In honor of Arbor Day gatherings around the country, we look at one of the rarest trees found in eastern North America; principally located on the limestone cliffs of North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Donald Culross Peattie writes, “An icy ran was falling—rain that presently turned to blinding snow—and the roaring creeks of Tennessee were rising fast, on the last day of February, 1796, when André Michaux stopped his horse, somewhere in the lonely woods twelve miles from Fort Blount, to examine a curious tree.” The famed French plantsman knew he was looking at a tree few white men had ever seen.

Panicles that hang like Parisian chandleries

This week the hot question at Ijams Nature Center was: "What are those trees blooming by the parking lot?"

"They’re called Kentucky yellowwoods," I'd answer. (Or as the botanists say "Cladrastis kentukea.") The common name comes from the color of the heartwood. Their amazing flowers are celebrations borne in drooping terminal white panicles twelve to fourteen inches long, five to six inches broad. They are like a display of fireworks without the noise, soft explosions. The three growing at Ijams are the only ones I have knowingly seen.

Today, the bees were loving the fragrant panicles, and luckily for them, the nature center has plenty of limestone bedrock, so the trees should do very well for many years to come.


Plant a tree! Arbor Day celebrated at Ijams. 

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rarity

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The next time you find yourself at a convention of dendrologists in Boise, here’s a way to slip into the conversation: mention Kentucky yellowwood. Just say you saw one in bloom at Ijams Nature Center and the tree folk will smile accordingly.

Modest-sized, yellowwoods are one of the rarest trees of eastern North America, principally found on the limestone cliffs of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. They do not bloom every year but when they do, it’s festive. The white flowers are fragrant and dangle in wisteria-like racemes.

Donald Culross Peattie writes, “An icy ran was falling—rain that presently turned to blinding snow—and the roaring creeks of Tennessee were rising fast, on the last day of February, 1796, when André Michaux stopped his horse, somewhere in the lonely woods twelve miles from Fort Blount, to examine a curious tree.” The famed French plantsman knew he was looking at a tree few white men had ever seen.

Currently there’s four in bloom near the parking lot at the nature center.



- Photos taken at Ijams Nature Center

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