Golden rain tree

Golden rain tree: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Small tree of 8–12 m with a broad, rounded, fairly open crown.

Leaf

Alternate, pinnate to partly bipinnate, 15–35 cm, with 7–15 coarsely and irregularly toothed to deeply cut leaflets; reddish when young, yellow to orange in autumn.

Bark

Light brown to grey-brown, shallowly furrowed.

Flower

Large, upright panicles of small golden-yellow flowers with a red centre, in July–August.

Fruit

Inflated, three-sided pods 4–5 cm long, green to pinkish red at first, later papery brown, with black seeds.

Difference from tree of heaven

Tree of heaven has a much larger leaf with untoothed leaflets, each with 1–3 teeth at the base, and smells foul when crushed.

Difference from false acacia

False acacia has untoothed, oval leaflets, spines at the leaf base and white flower clusters in May.

Flowering: July–August · Pruning: November–March

Identify by feature: Pinnate leaves

Looks like it, but isn’t

• Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima: much larger leaf with untoothed leaflets, each with 1–3 teeth at the base; smells foul when crushed. Difference from tree of heaven
• False acacia Robinia pseudoacacia: untoothed, oval leaflets, spines at the leaf base and white flower clusters in May. Difference from false acacia

Why grow it?

• Golden-yellow flowers in midsummer, when few other trees are in bloom.
• The yellow summer flowers attract lots of bees.
• Decorative lantern fruits that hang on for a long time, also lovely in dried arrangements.
• Tolerates sun, heat and drought: a tree for warm, sunny spots.

Golden rain tree: where does it grow best?

• Full sun; the warmer the spot, the better it flowers.
• Any well-drained soil, including chalky or sandy soil; it tolerates drought but not wet feet.
• Allow about 7 m width: suitable for a medium-sized garden, a front garden or a square.

Light

Full sun

Legal basis

Any garden soil

Moisture

Dry

Size

10 m tall, 7 m wide

Hardiness

Throughout Belgium, no protection needed

Goes well with

• English lavender: Flowers at the same time, likes the same sun and drought, and attracts even more bees.
• Smoke-tree: Purple or green leaves and smoky plumes, for the same sunny, dry spot.
• Syrian hibiscus: Carries on flowering in late summer, once the golden rain tree has finished.

Good and bad companions

Goes well with

• Tolerate the shade under this tree: oregon grape, rhododendron, oleaster, japanese skimmia, garden privet, camellia, laurustinus, box-leaved honeysuckle

Golden rain tree: when and how to plant it?

1. Plant from November to March, root-balled or container-grown.
2. Choose the warmest, sunniest spot in the garden, out of cold winds.
3. Put a stake on the windward side and water well after planting.
4. Water in dry spells during the first year; after that it looks after itself.

Care

Watering

In dry spells during the first year; after that it copes well with dry summers.

Feeding

Not needed; on very poor soil, a little compost in spring.

Fruits

Leave the lanterns on the tree: they decorate it well into autumn. Pick a few for dried arrangements.

Seedlings

If seedlings come up under the tree, pull them out while young.

Tip: Plant it by a patio or seating area where you look up into it: the yellow panicles, and later the lanterns, against a blue sky make a wonderful summer picture.

Golden rain tree: when to prune it?

Pruning months: November–March.

When: Dead, diseased and broken branches can be removed at any time of year. If pruning is needed, do it during winter dormancy (November–March).

How:

• Little pruning needed. Remove crossing or inward-growing branches in winter.
• Give a young tree a clear stem of the height you want by gradually removing the lowest branches.

Caution: Don’t remove large branches without good reason: small wounds heal best. If you must, cut in three stages, just outside the branch collar.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Sowing

Sow the black seeds in autumn in a pot outdoors; they often only germinate after a winter, sometimes later.

Golden rain tree: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy throughout Belgium: no protection needed.

• Hardy in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• In winter, brown, papery lanterns often still hang from the branches.

Diseases and pests

• Coral spot: Small pink to orange pustules on dead twigs. Cut out dead wood back to healthy wood.
• Wet soil: On wet, heavy soil it grows poorly and branches die back. Choose a well-drained spot.
• Few flowers: Too much shade or a cool spot means few flowers: it needs full sun and warmth.

Through the year

• January: Formative pruning in winter; remove dead wood.
• March: Last month for formative pruning and for planting.
• May: The young leaves unfurl, reddish.
• July: Flowering: golden-yellow panicles full of bees.
• August: Flowering ends; the lanterns form.
• September: Lanterns turn pinkish red to brown; pick a few to dry.
• October: Autumn colour yellow to orange.
• November: Planting season; formative pruning can begin.

What can you use it for?

Garden and landscape

Small tree for sunny gardens and squares; it flowers in summer and the lanterns hang on for a long time.

For wildlife

The yellow summer flowers attract lots of bees.

Also used for

The fruits look lovely in dried arrangements.

Did you know?

• One of the few trees that flower yellow in midsummer. It is named after the German botanist Joseph Kölreuter, a pioneer of research into plant hybridisation.
• It belongs to the soapberry family, like the maples and the horse chestnut.
• Despite the name ‘golden rain tree’, it is no relation of laburnum, which is called ‘golden rain’ in Dutch.