Plants: Koelreuteria paniculata - golden-rain tree

Not many trees bloom in mid or even late summer when all the spring flowering beauties have only leaves. Golden-rain tree is one of the few. In late July/early August upto 30 cm long panicles of small, bright yellow flowers appear on this medium sized tree. The flowers can remain on the tree for as long as one month. They are followed by bladder-like pink or red-flushed fruit capsules.

Pinnate leaves are alternate, bronze-pink when they emerge, bright green in summer, changing to vivid yellow in autumn. With age the tree gains fairly rounded, regular crown. Pruning can be done in early spring after danger of harsh frosts before leaves emerge, but is not required. It grows medium fast.

It is widely tolerant of any soil type apart from muddy, it even tolerates pollution of any kind - a perfect choice for urban areas. Use as a free-standing tree to show all its glory! Grow in full sun for best flowering. Plants older than 3 years are fully hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Usual height and width: 4-7m x 3-5m
Leaves: deciduous broadleaf
Size/type: medium-sized tree
Colour of leaves: green
Blooming time: July - August
Location: full sun
Flowers: showy
USDA zone (lowest): 5 (down to -29°C)
Colour of flowers: yellow
Belongs to categories: Summer blooms, Deciduous broadleaf