Golden Raintree

The Golden Raintree typically reaches heights between 30 and 40 feet with spreads much the same. This small tree has a rounded, open crown and is tolerant of most city pollutants and droughts. For best growth, plant the tree in well-drained soil with full sun.

The alternate, pinnate (sometimes bipinnate) LEAVES are 14” long and contain 7-15 leaflets. Each leaflet is 1- 3 1/4” long and ovate in shape. When the leaves first emerge they are a pinkish-bronze color. As the leaf matures it changes to a dark green and then finally to a yellow color in the fall.

In early summer, bright yellow FLOWERS bloom in wide terminal panicles that reach 18” in length. Each flower is 1/2” wide and has 3-4 petals. The tree gets its name from the appearance of the falling flowers, however not all trees appear to have ‘golden rain.’

Following the flowers, the FRUIT of the tree comes in the form of 1 1/2 – 2” long, papery capsules. Each capsule has 3 valves and each valve has 2 SEEDS. The capsules change color from green to yellow to brown and the seeds are black. Some describe the capsules to look like small Chinese lanterns.

The BARK becomes dark brown, heavily ridged and furrowed as the tree ages. The BRANCHES are spreading and ascending.