A low branching tree with a wide, round crown that is rarely seen here. Is also sometimes grown as multiple-stemmed shrub. The trunk is grey brown and smooth, when mature shallow grooves may appear. The wood is strikingly yellow, especially when freshly sawn. The large, compound leaf consists of 7 to 9 ovoid to ovate leaflets, which are each 8 - 14 cm large. The separate leaflets are not opposite on the central stalk. They turn strikingly yellow in autumn. The loose, pendulous panicles with fragrant, white flowers are circa 25 cm long. In late summer the pods appear that turn from green through brown to purplish brown. Cladrastis kentukea has a big, fleshy root system and thrives best in a sunny, warm location but its hardiness is good. Damage to the young twigs of Cladrastis kentukea reveals yellow wood. The tree forms a characteristic trunk when older.
Cladrastis kentukea môže dorastať do výšky 8 - 10 (15) m v závislosti od podmienok stanovišťa a klímy.
Cladrastis kentukea rastie priemerne rastúci a môže dorastať do výšky 8 - 10 (15) m v závislosti od podmienok stanovišťa a klímy.
Listy stromu Cladrastis kentukea sa na jeseň sfarbia do žltá."
Správny čas na výsadbu stromu je mimo vegetačné obdobie. V strednej Európe môže byť Cladrastis kentukea so zemným balom vysadený od polovice novembra do konca apríla, avšak závisí to veľmi od klimatických podmienok a druhu stromu.