by Nick Fisher
More than 35 years ago, I planted a yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) sapling that was probably only a foot or two tall. I had picked up two—one didn’t survive those early years of drought—but the other has grown into a mature tree that still blooms today.
Photo by Agnieszka Kwiecień / via NC State Extension Plant Toolbox / CC BY-SA 4.0
I was cautioned it would take years to see flowers, and that was true. It took about 12 to 15 years before the first blooms appeared. When it does flower, the show is worth the wait—fragrant, elegant, and unforgettable.
I don’t recall exactly who recommended yellowwood to me, only that they were a Clemson professor and long-time SCNPS leader. Their guidance, and the encouragement of the South Carolina Native Plant Society, gave me the inspiration to plant it more than three decades ago. I’m grateful for that advice every time the tree comes into bloom.
Nick Fischer’s yellowwood in bloom. Photo by Nick Fischer.
Share Your Story
Nick Fischer’s yellowwood is one example of how SCNPS has inspired native plantings across South Carolina. Do you have a story about a tree, plant, or landscape shaped by SCNPS guidance? We’d love to hear it. Send your story or photos to upstatepublicity@scnps.org.
