Description
Laburnum – Golden Chain Tree –
There are 2 species of deciduous tree in this genus. They occur from woodland and thickets in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe and Western Asia. They are grown for their profuse, pendent, usually axillary racemes of pea like flowers, borne in late spring and early summer. Flowers are followed by brown seed pods. The leaves are alternate and 3 palmate. Useful in a small garden as specimen trees or to form a pergola. All parts are highly toxic if ingested.
Grow in moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun.
Prone to leaf spot, canker, twig blight, tip dieback, aphids, mealy bugs, leaf miners insects, and snails.
L. alpinum – Scotch Laburnum – This native to Southern and Central Europe is a broadly spreading small tree that can reach a 25′ feet high. In spring and summer it bears delicate, pendulous racemes 10-15″ long of golden yellow flowers, followed by hairless brown pods containing brown seeds. The deep green leaves are smooth and glossy on the undersides, The bark is smooth and dark gray, shallowly fissured with age.
Zones 4-9
