Forest & Kim Starr
Family
Sapindaceae
Botanical Name
KOELREUTERIA elegans
Plant Common Name
Flamegold
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Feathery compound foliage of flamegold is accentuated by upright, airy clusters of tiny yellow flowers in late summer, and showy salmon-pink or pale red-orange seedpods soon thereafter. A rounded, semi- or fully deciduous tree with an irregular branching habit with cracking gray bark, it a native of warm southern China and Taiwan.
Its leaves are bi-pinnately compound - a central leaf stem petiole branches again into lined stems of tooth-edged, bright green leaflets. In late summer to early fall think wispy-stemmed clusters of yellow flowers arise from branch tips. The individual flowers are small, five-petaled and have a reddish base around the stamens. The pods that quickly form after being pollinated by bees are papery, three-chambered pods that are often called "Chinese lanterns", dangling from the branches. They are rosy-pink or salmon-pink when young, gradualy drying to be more pink and tan or red-tan. A tree filled with the pods is exponentially more attractive than when in flower. The seeds readily germinate around the base of the tree, leading to weedy seedlings in the landscape. In very late autumn, if not first killed by a frost, the foliage can turn a lovely golden yellow.
Flamegold is tolerant of many conditions and are great urban trees tolerant of pollution, heat, salt and drought. It prospers in well-drained soil and full sun but will grow in partial shade. Fully evergreen in warm tropical areas, it is deciduous elsewhere winters are cool or frosty. It has an open, rangy, leaning habit and brittle wood which breaks during windstorms. Prune it while young to establish good branch structure and a tidy shape. The seeds of this tree are fertile and pop-up around the landscape. Flamegold is excellent in providing broken shade to patios, is a good street tree and works well in small yards and landscapes, although quite messy.
Flamegold may be considered a noxious weed or a prohibited invasive plant in mild, subtropical regions.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 12
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
25'-50' / 7.6m - 15.2m (35)
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Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
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Native To
China
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow, Red
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Fruit Color
Salmon, Orange Red, Dark Salmon, Tan, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Dark Green, Gold
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Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Yellow, Gold
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Bark Color
Orange, Sandy Brown, Gray
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Bark Color Modifier
Multi-Color
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
