Golden Rain Tree
Koelreuteria paniculata
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*This map shows the current US range, not the native range.
Golden rain tree is native to eastern Asia. It was introduced to North America in 1763 and is now considered invasive. It's tolerant of many conditions, making it enticing for ornamental use.
Fruit: A 3-valved, papery capsule that looks like a balloon or Chinese lantern. They are green, yellow, light brown, or pinkish. They appear from August to October.
Flowers: A yellow, star-shaped flower arranged in 12-15" long panicles. They bloom in mid-summer and fall after blooming, hence the "golden rain" name.
Uses: Golden rain tree is highly desired as an ornamental.
Ethnobotany: In the past the seeds have been used to make beaded necklaces. A yellow dye can be made from the flowers and a black dye can be made from the leaves.
Importance to wildlife: The tree attracts pollinators. It can outcompete nearby plants.
The bark of a golden rain tree. Bark is light gray-brown with flat ridges and reddish-brown furrows.
A single leaf on a golden rain tree. Leaves are 6-18" long and pinnately compound with 7-15 leaflets.
A single leaflet on a golden rain tree. Leaflets are 1-4" long, lobed and/or irregularly toothed, glabrous above, and with pubescent veins below. They are pinkish bronze to purple when new, vivid green at maturity, and golden yellow in the fall.
The leaf arrangement of a golden rain tree. Leaves are compound and alternate (but look almost opposite). Along the rachis leaflets are alterantely arranged.
The foliage with pink fruit.
The inside of the fruit, showing the seeds. At maturity the seeds are black.
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