July Blooming Japanese Pagoda Tree

Japanese Pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum), formerly Sophora japonica, is medium-sized tree that grows to 50 feet high, but seeing one 75 feet is not unusual in the southeastern U.S. Pagoda tree is native to eastern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4 –8) where it is also called “Scholar tree”.

Japanese Pagoda Tree

What really makes pagoda tree strikingly different is its flowering time in July-August, when few landscape trees are blooming. Its pea-like, creamy-white flowers are showy, wisteria-like, and fragrant. The 12-inch long flower clusters droop off the branch tips. Fall color is rated average, leaves turning yellow.

In the early days of autumn, 3 to 8 inches long green fruits, best described as string of pearls, form and persist way into winter. Birds don’t are not attracted to the berries; they turn black, shrivel, and linger through winter. By spring the tree has shed most of the twiggy fruit rachises.


Pagoda tree grows in full to partial sun (6-hours minimum) and in a moist well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Pagoda tree tolerates urban drought, air pollution, and moderate soil salinity around coastal beach areas. The tree is rarely troubled by serious disease or insect problems.


Annual growth rate ranges from 18 to 24 inches. Summer foliage is comprised of 8-10 inch long, pinnately compound leaflets numbering 7 to 17. In some years its golden fall color can be spectacular.


Some cultivars, including weeping and upright (columnar) forms, are available. ‘Regent’ is the most popular cultivar, high valued as a vigorous grower and lustrous green foliage.

American Yellowwood

May-June flowering tree

American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea), a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), is native to southeastern U.S. All other Cladrastis species are indigenous to Asia. Yellowwood is a beautiful medium-sized (35-45 feet) high tree with a broad crown, narrow profile, and upright branching.

Their pinnate compound leaves are alternately arranged. Each compound leaf is comprised 7-11 leaflets borne on a slender, green, 7-9 inches (20-30-cm) long rachis.

Dainty drooping panicles, almost wisteria-like, drip from the tips of branches in May or June, depending on regional location. The fragrant white-and-yellow pea-flowers are seldom borne on young trees and may take upwards of 10 years to bloom the first time. 

Yellowwood tends to be alternate-year bearing (i.e., bloom heavily one year, with little or no flowering the following year). Clusters of flattened green pea pods soon followed; each pod is 2-3 inch (10 cm) long and turns papery brown in autumn. Fall leaf color is brilliant yellow. The tree's light gray smooth bark, similar in appearance to beech (Fagus spp.), is an attractive four- season asset.

Yellowwood prefers a rich, deep, well-drained soil along with modest summer moisture. Leaves are subject to chlorosis (yellowing) in alkaline soils (pH above 7.2). This tap-rooted tree is drought tolerant within 2 years after planting. Yellowwood is not a good choice as a street tree as its surface roots may eventually push up sidewalks.

Narrow branch angles may result in limb trunked. When young, yellowwood needs to be correctively pruned to encourage wider branch angles and prevent bark inclusions. The cut branches tend to “bleed” sap excessively if pruned in winter.

Pests and diseases on yellowwood are rare, but the tree is susceptible to verticillium wilt. This thin bark tree is unfortunately subject to improper damage by line trimmers, mowers and other equipment, as well as sunscald over winter if young branches are left unshaded.