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Koelreuteria paniculata 'September'

Image of Koelreuteria paniculata 'September'

Family

Sapindaceae

Botanical Name

Koelreuteria paniculata 'September'

Plant Common Name

September Golden Raintree

General Description

Golden raintree is a small to medium sized deciduous tree native to China and Korea. Cultivar 'September' is slightly less hardy than the species, and blooms in late summer and into the fall. The overall shape is irregular to round, sometimes with multiple trunks. The large leaves are compound with leaflets that are irregular, roughly oval and coarsely toothed or lobed. Leaves emerge in spring light to medium green tinted with pink or bronze; they are bright green in summer and turn unreliably buttery yellow in the fall. Very late summer blooms appear at the ends of the branches in large clusters or panicles. They are small, yellow and open over several weeks. The seedpods are also showy, being papery like small Chinese lanterns and are greenish pink to red maturing to tan and brown. Golden raintree can be a bit messy dropping flowers, seedpods and many small twigs.

Golden raintrees are tolerant of many conditions and are great urban trees tolerant of pollution, heat, salt and drought. They prefer well drained soil and full sun but will grow in partial shade. They have open, rangy, leaning habits and brittle wood which breaks during windstorms. Prune them while young to establish good branch structure and a tidy shape. The seeds of this tree are fertile and pop-up around the landscape. It has naturalized in Japan and is becoming invasive in some locations. Golden raintrees are excellent in providing broken shade to patios, are good street trees and work well in small yards and landscapes, although quite messy.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    9 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    5 - 9

  • Sunset Zone

    A2, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Tree

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    20'-35' / 6.1m - 10.7m

  • Width

    20'-35' / 6.1m - 10.7m

  • Bloom Time

    Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall

  • Native To

    China, Korea

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Oval/Rounded

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Yellow

  • Fruit Color

    Pink, Tan, Brown

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Yellow, Green

  • Bark Color

    Brown

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Corky

  • Usage

    Shade Trees, Street Trees

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    Sometimes

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes