goldenrain tree
Koelreuteria bipinnata
click thumbnail to enlarge
Form & Habitat
goldenrain tree form and habitat
Leaves
goldenrain tree leaves goldenrain tree leaflets goldenrain tree leaflets (underside)
Twigs
goldenrain tree twigs
Bark
goldenrain tree bark goldenrain tree bark
Flowers
goldenrain tree flowers goldenrain tree flowers goldenrain tree flowers
Fruit
goldenrain tree fruit goldenrain tree fruit goldenrain tree fruit goldenrain tree fruit goldenrain tree fruit and seeds goldenrain tree fruit and seeds
  • FAMILY: SAPINDACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAME:
  • LEAVES: alternate, deciduous, bipinnately compound; ovate leaflets to 4” long; yellow-green in summer, bright yellow in fall
  • FLOWER: large showy terminal panicles of bright yellow flowers; flowers September through October; flowers drop off like "golden rain", hence the name
  • FRUIT: large panicles of papery sacs form immediately after flowering; present October through winter; turning from bright pink, then salmon, then tan
  • TWIGS:
  • BARK:
  • FORM: broad to flat-topped, medium sized tree; often multiple stemmed due to winter die-back
  • HABITAT: urban ornamental
  • RANGE: extreme Gulf coast; not cold hardy; native of China
  • USES: ornamental
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. bipinnately compound, yellow-green leaves
    2. large terminal panicles of yellow flowers, early fall
    3. large terminal panicles of pink-to-tan sacs

    NOTES: trees in Baton Rouge may actually be Koelreuteria elegans; Koelreuteria paniculata (northen goldenrain tree) is cold hardy, but flowers in the spring

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    School of Renewable Natural Reources    		 Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours
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    page revised: 26-Jun-2019 1:45 PM  msb    		 LSU AgCenter

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