Goldenrain Tree
Koelreuteria paniculata
A small to medium-sized deciduous tree featuring compound leaves, bright yellow panicles of summer flowers, and distinct papery lantern-like seed capsules that persist into autumn.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Low to moderate watering needs once established. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry. Highly drought tolerant.
- Growth
- Deciduous perennial tree with a rounded, spreading crown, growing to a mature height and spread of 30 to 40 feet with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Water deeply during establishment, then reduce frequency as the tree develops strong drought tolerance. Fertilization is generally unnecessary unless soil nutrient deficiencies are observed.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Low to moderate watering needs once established. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry. Highly drought tolerant.
Soil
Adaptable to a wide range of soil types including clay, loam, and sand, provided they are well-draining. Prefers a neutral to slightly alkaline pH range of 6.0 to 8.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9
Growth habit
Deciduous perennial tree with a rounded, spreading crown, growing to a mature height and spread of 30 to 40 feet with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Bloom season
Mid to late summer, producing large, showy upright panicles of bright yellow flowers.
Propagation
Typically propagated from seeds sown in spring after cold stratification, or through root cuttings.
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient against major pests and diseases, though occasionally susceptible to twig blight, verticillium wilt, and scale insects.
Similar species
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis), which has similar autumn coloration and compound leaves, but features different bark texture and lacks the distinct papery seed lanterns.