Koelreuteria paniculata

PSC 2620: Woody Trees and Shrub Course Home Week 4

Koelreuteria paniculata - Goldenrain Tree

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Goldenrain tree has an excellent rounded form.	The long, pinnately compound leaf has 7-15 leaflets.

Yellow flowers form in panicles in the summer.	Papery seed pods emerge shortly after the blossoms fade. Image: Wikipedia.org

Plant Description

This mid-sized tree is well noted for its well-rounded form, showy summer blossoms and striking fruit. It is a good selection for an urban tree because of its moderate size (30 feet high and wide) and tolerance of poor soils and urban pollution. It is a fairly quick growing tree, especially in a location with good soil and watering, however, it will still thrive and perform well under less hospitable circumstances.

The bright green leaves are pinnately compound and arranged alternately on the stem. The leafs can be between 10-15 inch long and wide, with 7 to 15 leaflets per leaf. Each leaflet is between 2 and 4 inches long, roughly elliptic in shape and have an irregularly serrated margin. The petiole is reddish, especially towards the base of the leaf. Overall, the foliage of the Goldenrain Tree is quite attractive in its own right and provides a nice visual texture to the tree.

Koelreuteria paniculata is most noted for its showy yellow blossoms and fruit, both of which appear during summer. The blossoms occur in 12-15 inch long panicles on the outer edge of the canopy. Its late blooming period makes Goldenrain Tree an excellent choice for providing greater diversity in a landscape. Following the blossoms, yellow, puffed out, papery seed capsules appear on the tree in hanging panicles. They look like a form of origami artwork hung in the tree, and are quite ornamental at their best near the end of summer and into fall. By fall they have changed to a golden brown color and persist on the tree through winter.

Landscape Use

Because of its tolerance of urban pollution it is especially suited to use as a street tree, though it will need adequate moisture. It can also be used as an ornamental accent tree or even as a small shade tree.

Points of Interest