Practical
Plants

Cladrastis lutea

Yellow Wood

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Cladrastis genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
15 m
Spread
8 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A clear yellow dye is obtained from the heartwood[9][10][12]. Wood - relatively heavy, very hard, strong, close grained, durable and takes a beautiful polish[2][9][10][12][6]. It weighs 39lb per cubic foot[7] and is a good fuel[12].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - Appalachian mountains, mainly in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Habitat
Woods in rich well-drained limestone soils, in river valleys, slopes, ridges and the borders of streams[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[11]. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water and then sown in a greenhouse in late winter[11][3][5]. Three months cold stratification at 5°c can reduce the germination time[5]. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 10°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Root cuttings, 5 - 7cm long, December in a greenhouse. Good percentage[11].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a rich well-drained loamy soil in a very sunny position[2][5]. Tolerates slightly acid to very alkaline soils[5]. A very ornamental plant[1], when dormant it is hardy to -30°c or lower[5]. However, plants can be excited into early spring growth in the mild climate of Britain and that growth is very susceptible to frost damage[5]. A slow-growing but moderately long-lived tree in the wild[6]. The branches are brittle and can be broken off in strong winds[4][5]. The plants contain a copious watery sap and can bleed profusely if they are pruned in winter or spring[12][5]. Any pruning is best done in late summer[5]. This species often only flowers in alternate years in the wild[12]. The flowers are produced most freely after a long hot summer[5]. The flowers have a soft scent of vanilla[8]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  6. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

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  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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