"Cladrastis kentukea" is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree typically growing tall, exceptionally to tall, with a broad, rounded crown and smooth gray bark.The leaves are compound pinnate, 20–30 cm long, with 5-11 (mostly 7-9) alternately arranged leaflets, each leaflet broad ovate with an acute apex, 6–13 cm long and 3–7 cm broad, with an entire margin and a thinly to densely hairy underside.