Side by side
Golden rain tree or false acacia? How to tell them apart
Koelreuteria paniculata · Robinia pseudoacacia
How to tell them apart – golden rain tree: small tree with a pinnate, coarsely toothed leaf, yellow flower panicles in summer and inflated, lantern-like fruits; false acacia: untoothed, oval leaflets, spines at the leaf base and white flower clusters in May.
How do you recognise them?
- Golden rain tree
- Small tree with a pinnate, coarsely toothed leaf, yellow flower panicles in summer and inflated, lantern-like fruits.
- False acacia
- Pinnate leaf with oval, untoothed leaflets and two spines at the base of each leaf; hanging clusters of white flowers.
- Compared with golden rain tree: untoothed, oval leaflets, spines at the leaf base and white flower clusters in May.
| Golden rain tree | False acacia | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 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. | Alternate, pinnate with 9–19 oval, smooth-edged leaflets and a terminal leaflet. Two sharp spines at the leaf base. |
| Flowering | Large, upright panicles of small golden-yellow flowers with a red centre, in July–August (July–August). | Hanging clusters of white, highly fragrant pea flowers in May–June; loved by bees (June). |
| Fruit | Inflated, three-sided pods 4–5 cm long, green to pinkish red at first, later papery brown, with black seeds. | Flat brown pods 5–10 cm that stay on the tree for a long time. |
| Bark | Light brown to grey-brown, shallowly furrowed. | Grey-brown and deeply furrowed in a network pattern, often twisted. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 8–12 m | Broadleaf tree, 15–25 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, dry | Full sun, any garden soil, dry |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, an invasive alien species |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | Yes, for bees |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | November–March | June–August |
What does it mean for your garden?
- False acacia is an invasive non-native species: do not plant it. Pull up seedlings and choose a native species instead.
- False acacia is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- False acacia grows 15–25 m tall: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Golden rain tree
- Plant profile: False acacia
- Golden rain tree: when and how to prune
- False acacia: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.