Yellowwood
Cladrastis kentukea
Yellowwood is a rare and beautiful American native hardwood named for the bright yellow color of its freshly cut heartwood. This elegant medium-density wood features fine grain and excellent workability, making it prized for furniture, turnings, and decorative items. Found primarily in the Appalachian region, Yellowwood is relatively scarce in the lumber market but highly valued by woodworkers for its unique color and smooth working properties.
Janka Hardness
720 lbf
Soft hardwood
Density
33 lbs/ft³
Light
Shrinkage
Low (7.1% tangential, 4.0% radial)
Good stability
Appearance
Color: Bright yellow when freshly cut, aging to golden brown. Sapwood is nearly white. The yellow color is distinctive but fades with UV exposure.
Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked grain with fine, uniform texture. Smooth surface when finished.
Key Characteristics
- •Distinctive bright yellow freshly cut color
- •Fine uniform texture
- •Excellent workability
- •Smooth finish quality
- •Good dimensional stability
- •Rare and unique
Common Applications
Maintenance
For interior use. Finish with UV-blocking products to slow color change. Clean with mild wood cleaner.
Advantages
- +Unique bright yellow color
- +Very easy to work with
- +Fine texture finishes beautifully
- +Good stability
- +Lightweight for easy handling
- +Conversation-starting appearance
Considerations
- •Very rare and limited availability
- •Color fades to brown with UV exposure
- •Not durable outdoors
- •Soft for a hardwood
- •Small tree size limits board dimensions
- •Higher price due to scarcity