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Laburnum anagyroides is often confused with:
Koelreuteria paniculata Koelreuteria paniculata
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Aesculus flava Tree in full bloom
Euonymus europaeus Form
Vernicia fordii Vernicia fordii
Laburnum anagyroides has some common disease problems:
Twig Blight of Blueberry

Common Laburnum Laburnum anagyroides

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
la-BURN-um an-ah-gy-ROY-deez
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The Golden Chain Tree is a small, deciduous, flowering tree or large shrub in the bean family that grows to 30 feet tall, with an equal spread, at maturity. It has smooth bark, dark green spreading branches and pendulous and pubescent twigs. The leaves are generally trifoliate and oval with long petioles, smooth on the upper side and hairy on the underside. The pea-like, fragrant, yellow flowers bloom during May and June. The genus name is the Latin name. The species name means resembling the genus Anagyris.

Golden Chain Tree does best in organically rich, medium moisture, well drained soil in full sun, but does tolerate partial shade. The tree does not do well in the heat and humidity of the deep South (south of USDA Zone 7) and prefers climates where both summer and winter temperature are moderate.

Golden Chain Tree can be pruned to shape as a flowering hedge. If you are forming it as a small tree, remove root suckers as they appear. Also remove the seedpods as they are not ornamental and are poisonous. Wear gloves when working with this plant.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

Twig blight is an infrequent but serious disease. Canker and leaf spot can be problems. Watch for aphids and mealybugs.The tree is short-lived and does not tolerate heat. Full drainage is especially important.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Sunspire'
'Sunspire'
Tags:
#gold#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#poisonous#yellow flowers#high maintenance#messy#large flowers#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Sunspire'
'Sunspire'
Tags:
#gold#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#poisonous#yellow flowers#high maintenance#messy#large flowers#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Laburnum
    Species:
    anagyroides
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Wood is coarse grained, durable, and very hard. It can be used as an ebony substitute, and is used in making instruments and furniture where strength and smoothness are important.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and Southeastern Europe
    Distribution:
    Britain, India, South America, New Zealand
    Edibility:
    The seeds are extremely poisonous to humans as well as goats and horses, especially when not ripe.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Open
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a long, flattened pod that splits open when ripe. The seeds are legumes with a large numbers of black seeds that contain cytisine, an alkaloid extremely poisonous to humans as well as goats and horses, especially when not ripe.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    asymmetrical petals
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are pea-like, golden, in long drooping clusters 6 to 10 inches long. Golden Chain Tree blooms are pea-like, yellow flowers densely packed in pendulous racemes 4 to 10 inches long. The flowers are sweet-scented.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, long-stalked with 3 leaflets 1 to 3 inches long. It has insignificant fall color.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    The bark of an adult plant is thin and smooth.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Sparsely branched and often loses lower branches.
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Hedge
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Pollution
    Wind
    Problems:
    Messy
    Poisonous to Humans
    Short-lived
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    All parts of the tree are poisonous: roots, bark, wood, leaves, flower-buds, petals, and seedpods. The harmful part of the plant is the seedpods. In many cases of ingestion of a small number of seeds, there are no symptoms. Where symptoms do occur these are usually nausea and vomiting. Higher doses can produce intense sleepiness, convulsive possibly tetanic movements, coma, slight frothing at the mouth and unequally dilated pupils. Nervousness, stomach and intestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; irregular pulse, convulsions, coma. HIGHLY TOXIC MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Cytisine, an alkaloid
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems