Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)

Location and Notable Facts

  • Other names
    • China Tree 
    • Varnish Tree
  • Scientific Family
    • Sapindaceae (Soapberry Family) 
  • Discovery
    •  N/A
  • Size (Width/Height/Growth/DBH)
    • Small tree, reaching 30 feet
  • Colors
    •  N/A
  • Bloom/Seed/Fruit
    • Yellow attractive flowers followed by fruit that are air filled capsules resembling lanterns
    • The fruit does not attract wildlife

g.raintree leaf

Photo credit to Arbor Day Foundation

  • Leaf Arrangement 
    • Deciduous, large bipinnately compound leaf. 
    • 7 to 15 leaflets coarsely serrate.

kopa0807

Photo credit to Oregon State University

  • Bark Arrangement 
    •  Bark is thin and easily damaged

kopa535Photo credit to Oregon State University

  • Invasive/Non-invasive
    • Can be invasive by reproducing from black seeds found in the capsules.
  • Native/Non-native
    •  Non-native; native to China, Korea and Japan. 
    • Was introduced to the United States in 1763.
  • Pests/Disease
    • Occasionally attacked by Scale and Boxelder
    • A canker causes dead and sunken areas on the bark. Coral pink fruiting bodies develop on the diseased bark.
    • Verticillium wilt attack Koelreuteria. The disease causes wilting and death of leaves on infected branches. Eventually the entire tree may be killed
  • Comparisons to similar trees
    •  N/A
  • Usefulness
    •  Attractive Ornamental
  • Local Location / History:  
  • Located on Ouachita Avenue, next to Landmark Building parking lot on Market Street.
g.raintree1