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Trees

Koelreuteria elegans subsp. formosana

An evergreen tree to 10m tall, with a wide spreading crown and rough, furrowed bark. The large, 2-pinnate leaves are composed of opposite pairs of finely toothed, oval leaflets. Golden yellow flowers are borne in pyramidal clusters to 30cm long in late summer; these are followed by unusual, inflated, pink-flushed fruit capsules. Not hardy in the British Isles

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Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

20–50 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

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)

Botanical details

Family: Sapindaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Koelreuteria are slender deciduous trees with attractive, pinnately-divided leaves and panicles of yellow flowers followed by bladdery fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Taiwan

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based compost with added grit, in full light. Water freely in the growing season and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; water sparingly at other times

Propagation

Propagate by root cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

See pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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