Yellowwood grows somewhat slowly, reaching 9 to 12 feet in about a decade.
After the blooms are pollinated, they form brownleguminous pods.
Full sun is best to encourage flowering.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Soil
Alkaline and acidic soilsare both handled well by this tree as long as soil drains well.
It can also tolerate the full range of soils from sand to clay.
Known as a shade tree, the yellowwood works well in urban conditions thanks to itsdrought tolerance.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It’s a low maintenance specimen for your landscape that isn’t fussy about humidity.
Fertilizer
The yellowwood is one of the Fabaceae family members that does not utilize nitrogen fixation.
You may need to fertilize it if tests show N levels are low and symptoms like yellowing foliage appear.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Test to be sure as conditions like drought or overwatering have the potential to also cause yellow leaves.
The branches tend to grow close to each other and the wood can be brittle.
It is possible, however, that verticillium wilt, cankers, rots, and decay could strike.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The smooth gray bark may be susceptible to sun scald.
How Long Does Yellowwood Bloom?
The gorgeous floral display lasts about a week.
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While the flowers are a key feature of this plant, they can be erratic.
Some years, the blossoms will be plentiful; other years, there will be sparse to none.
New trees may not bloom for the first 8-10 years.
What Do Yellowwood Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The flowers are sweet, slightly vanilla-scented, and are most fragrant in the evening.
They attract bees and Black Swallowtail butterflies.
Yellowwood trees will naturally decline after 30-40 year if unpruned.
With regular attention to the tree, however, it can live at least twice that long.
The yellowwood name came about because the heartwood is yellow and can be used to make dyes.
The yellowwood tree provides a shady canopy.
The smooth gray bark adds winter interest.
