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Goldenrain tree

Koelreuteria paniculata

Also called Panicled Goldenrain Tree, Golden-rain tree, Pride Of India, Varnishtree, Pride Of China, Varnish Tree

Goldenrain tree
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0

Goldenrain tree is a small to medium deciduous tree, up to about 7 m, with a broad dome-shaped crown, yellow flower panicles in summer, and lantern-like seed pods. It is a popular temperate landscape tree and can be invasive in some regions, especially parts of the eastern United States and Florida.

Family
Sapindaceae (Soapberry & maple family)
Grows as
Tree
Light
Full sun
Water
Water regularly while young, then tolerates dry spells once established.
Soil
Adaptable; tolerates a range of soils including clay and poor soils, with good drainage preferred.
Temperature
Hardy in temperate climates; tolerates cold winters and hot summers.
How easy
Easy
Native range
China to Korea
Climate
temperate

About

Koelreuteria paniculata is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae, native to China (including Inner Mongolia), Korea, and Manchuria. Naturalized in Japan since at least the 1200s, it was introduced to Europe in 1747 and North America in 1763, and has become a popular landscape tree worldwide. Common names include goldenrain tree, pride of India, China tree, and the varnish tree.

How to grow it

Koelreuteria paniculata has been cultivated since ancient times. In the Zhou dynasty it was one of the five official memorial trees (alongside Pinus tabuliformis, Platycladus orientalis, Styphnolobium japonicum and certain poplars), being planted next to the tombs of scholars.

It is popularly grown as an ornamental tree in temperate regions all across the world because of the aesthetic appeal of its flowers, leaves and seed pods. Several cultivars have been selected for garden planting, including 'Fastigiata' with a narrow crown, and 'September Gold', flowering in late summer.

Other Koelreuteria plants

Flamegold · Golden Rain Tree

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Koelreuteria paniculata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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