Koelreuteria paniculata (also called pride of India and golden rain tree)
Koelreuteria
paniculata
Fairly fast growing deciduous tree grown for large clusters of yellow flowers. Attractive to bees. Reputedly drought tolerant.
Flowers in summer, followed by bladder-like seed pods.
Habit – upright, neat and tending towards roundness. H&S: 10m
Bark is reddish brown. It is thin, so easily damaged.
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.
Flowers – panicles of four-petalled, yellow flowers followed by hanging seed pods which resemble inflated bladders.
Full sun.
Well-drained and light.
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.
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.
By seed in autumn or root cuttings in winter.
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