Koelreuteria paniculata
Garden Plant Information

Koelreuteria paniculata

 

Koelreuteria paniculata - close-up

 

 

Name

Koelreuteria paniculata (also called pride of India and golden rain tree)

Genus  

Koelreuteria

Species

paniculata

Cultivar/variety

 

General description

Fairly fast growing deciduous tree grown for large clusters of yellow flowers. Attractive to bees. Reputedly drought tolerant.

Season of interest

Flowers in summer, followed by bladder-like seed pods.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit – upright, neat and tending towards roundness. H&S: 10m

  2. Bark is reddish brown. It is thin, so easily damaged.

  3. Leaves - alternate and pinnate with a toothed edge. Dark green and hairy on top, turning bright yellow in autumn. Young foliage has a pinkish tinge.

  4. Flowers – panicles of four-petalled, yellow flowers followed by hanging seed pods which resemble inflated bladders.

Cultural details

Aspect

Full sun.

Soil

Well-drained and light.

Hardiness

Some say this plant is hardy and others that it is frost tender, so it may be better to plant it in a sheltered spot to avoid frost damage to young growth. Saying that, there is a fine specimen thriving amongst other trees at Normanby Hall park, in North Lincolnshire, which is not known for especially mild conditions.

Maintenance

Little needed – remove crossing, diseased, dead or damaged branches when tree is dormant.

Plants are said to be susceptible to coral spot fungus but resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

By seed in autumn or root cuttings in winter.