Chinese Flame Tree Koelreuteria bipinnata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- keel-roo-TER-ee-uh by-pin-NAY-tuh
- Description
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Chinese Flame Tree is a small to medium size, flowering tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) and native to east Asia from southern China to Viet Nam. It has been grown in Alabama and is listed as a rare naturalized tree in North Carolina. Chinese Flame Tree flowers at an early age and is one of the few flowering trees that bloom in the summer. The leaves are green in summer, but turn an almost transparent yellow in fall. The seed pods dry well if cut in the pink stage. It has an irregular form, a spreading crown, and is often multi-stemmed.
Chinese Flame Tree does well in alkaline soil with good drainage but tolerates a range of soil types including nutritionally poor soil, clay, sand, and loam. The tree does require full sun, but not a lot of watering. It will tolerate heat, wind, air pollution, salt spray, and drought. It is a moderate to fast grower.
Chinese Flame Tree is a long-lived tree with some specimens lasting 150 years. This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer. Branches bend down somewhat as the tree grows and can break due to poor collar formation. Prune to build a strong branching structure and a single stem.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. The tree is considered a weak wooded tree.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Koelreuteria
- Species:
- bipinnata
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The seeds are used as beads in necklaces and the flowers can yield a yellow dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Central and South Eastern China, Viet Nam
- Distribution:
- Alabama
- Dimensions:
- Height: 22 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Rose pink seed pods appear in late fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Blossoms of 12 to 24 inch, yellow panicles appear in August and last into September. The flowers are small with a touch of red at the base, four petals and a pleasant fragrance.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The 20 inch alternate, bipinnately compound leaves are green, turning clear yellow in the fall. Leaves have an ovate shape and a pinnate venation.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are thin and brown and prone to breakage.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Wind
