Golden Rain Tree Koelreuteria paniculata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Golden Rain Tree:
Previously known as:
- Koelreuteria apiculata
- Koelreuteria japonica
- Sapindus paniculata
- Phonetic Spelling
- keel-roo-TER-ee-uh pan-ick-yoo-LAY-tuh
- Description
-
The golden rain tree is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows 30'-40' high. It is a great urban flowering tree that tolerates drought, heat, wind, and air pollution. It is easily transplanted, soil adaptable, and prefers full sun. It flowers at an early age with an upright display of yellow flowers, a rare color in flowering trees. Its yellow color is inconsistent in the fall. These summer blooms resemble a fireworks show. When the blooms are finished and the petals drop to the ground it resembles a "Golden Rain" blanket, hence the common name. Its fruit display is very distinctive, and it is sometimes used in dry arrangements. This small tree tolerates a range of soil types but prefers moist, well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. It has spreading branches but a rounded outline. It works well planted in a lawn or park or near a patio. This tree has a medium to fast growth rate. This tree is mildly resistant to damage by deer, and is pest and disease free.
Quick ID Hints:
- 12"-15" long panicle of yellow star-shaped flowers that bloom in mid-summer.
- Sparsely branched small tree rounded form
- Fruits are dehiscent, papery, and 3-valved
- Stems also have prominent, shield-shaped leaf scars. Prominent hairy buds and twigs have orange-brown lenticels
- Leaves are pinnately compound, 6"-18" long, with 7-15 leaflets
- Leaflets near the leaf base are deeply lobed
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Sometimes suffers from coral spot fungus, root rot, and cankers. It reseeds easily and can become weedy. It tends to have brittle wood so can be damaged in storms or during the winter.
VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Fastigiata'
Narrow upright 30' tall 6' wide - 'September'
Blooms later August-September but not as cold hardy
- 'Fastigiata'
- 'Fastigiata', 'September'
- Tags:












- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fastigiata'
Narrow upright 30' tall 6' wide - 'September'
Blooms later August-September but not as cold hardy
- 'Fastigiata'
- 'Fastigiata', 'September'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Koelreuteria
- Species:
- paniculata
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China to Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from the flowers attracts bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1 1/2"-2" long dehiscent, hollow papery 3-valved capsules that look like three-sided balloons or Chinese lanterns changing from yellow to brown and persisting into winter making for a good show. It has hard, pea-sized black seeds inside. The dried capsules work well in flower arrangements.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Large 12"-15" panicles with 1/2" wide yellow, star-shaped flowers with red centers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Interesting unusually shaped feathery pinnately or bipinnately compound alternate leaves that are 6"-18" long. There are 7-15 leaflets, each one ovate to ovate-oblong, that grow 1"-4" long. Margins are irregularly creanate-serrate on lobes. Leaflets near the base are deeply lobed, giving the leaf the appearance of being bipinnately compound. Leaves are vivid green above, and the veins underneath can be pubescent. New leaves are pinkish bronze to purple and turn green as they mature. Fall color is variable but golden yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- Light gray brown ridged and furrowed with an irregular texture giving ornamental appeal.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Heart or shield shaped
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Stems are light brown, glabrous, and prominent. They have shield-shaped leaf scars and raised, orange-brown, conspicuous leticels. Buds are large and have tufts of hair at the top.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Pollution
- Urban Conditions
- Wind
- Problems:
- Weedy