Koelreutaria paniculata – Golden Rain Tree

Botanical Name: Koelreutaria paniculata

Alternate Name: Goldenrain Tree, Goldenraintree

The Golden Rain tree (Koelreutaria paniculata) is an unusual and visually interesting tree, known for it’s beautiful panicles of golden flowers and sculptural seed pods. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree with an open growth habit and an attractive, irregularly rounded crown that can grow as wide as it does tall. This tree originates in Asia – Northern China, Korea, and Japan. It grows to a height of 30-40 feet with a spread of 30-40 feet.

The leaves of the Golden Rain tree emerge in the spring with attractive, purple tinged, bronze new growth. The foliage then matures to a bright green as the growing season progresses. In fall, the tree puts on a brilliant golden yellow display. The leaves are pinnately or bipinnately compound, with irregularly shaped, elliptical leaflets and coarsely toothed margins. Each leaf features 7-17 leaflets.

The flowers are stunning and cover the canopy in mid summer. The individual flowers are half an inch in size and make up showy panicles, 12-15 inches long. As the name suggests, the blooms then fall like ‘golden rain’ from the tree to make a bright yellow carpet on the sidewalk or landscape. Wonderful bright green seed pods that mature to bronze follow the flowers, providing another spectacle later in the season.

The Golden Rain tree thrives in full sun and is adaptable to different environmental conditions and soil types, preferring dry to moderate conditions. This tree can tolerate urban conditions and pollution and is a suitable size to plant as a street tree.

Description

Height: 30-40 ft.
Width: 30-40 ft.
Shape: Round
Flower Color: Golden Yellow
Flowering Time: June-July
Fall Color: Yellow
Features: Summer blooming, beautiful blooms covering the canopy, interesting seed pods, fall color
Exposure: Full Sun
Watering: Dry to Moderate & Regular
Soil: Prefers moist and well-drained soil. Adaptable to many different soil types.
Growth Rate: Moderate
USDA Zones: 5-9
Uses: Street tree, accent tree, shade tree, flowering tree
Similar Trees: Coral Sun Golden Rain Tree (Koelreutaria paniculata ‘Coral Sun’)

Additional information

Shape

Rounded

Flower Color

Golden Yellow

Flowering Time

July, June

Fall Color

Yellow

Growth Rate

Moderate

Uses

Accent Tree, Shade Tree, Street Tree

USDA Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Mature Height

30'-40'

Mature Width

30'-40'

Exposure

Full Sun

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