Laburnum anagyroides

RHS Plant Profile

common laburnum

Other common names

bean tree, golden chain, golden rain

Synonyms

Cytisus laburnum
Laburnum vulgare

Trees

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A deciduous, spreading tree to 8m in height, with grey-green new shoots and three dark green oval-shaped leaflets making up a leaf. The dense, hanging bunches of golden yellow flowers bloom from late spring to early summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched, Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pest: Harmful if eaten (dogs, rabbits, rodents). For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Laburnum are small deciduous trees with leaves composed of three leaflets, and bright yellow pea-shaped flowers in pendent racemes
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: C & S Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Good as specimen tree for a sunny position with a well-drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf-mining moths, leaf-mining flies and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, silver leaf and honey fungus