TREES > LABURNUM

IN THIS GUIDE

LABURNUM GUIDES

yellow flora of the laburnum tree up close

Varieties

Laburnum are small ornamental Tree with intensely green foliage .

The prime are even more ‘ intense ’ in their own elbow room .

spring flowering Laburnum tree with church and blue sky in the background

This is why Laburnum is also called ‘Golden Chain Tree’

Bright golden - yellow link , as if in a Ernst Boris Chain , tumble and dangle in and from the poll of Laburnum Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in duncish , dense clusters , present a stunning sight in summer .

Indigenous to Southern Europe , the ‘ Golden Chain Tree ’ is also prized for its high - level wood.1Laburnum ( Genus Laburnum ) . ( n.d . ) . iNaturalist United Kingdom . recover March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://uk.inaturalist.org/taxa/51811-Laburnum

Laburnums are deciduous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and they attain heights of 5 - 8 m , with 7m - and - change being a vernacular height .

racemes of yellow laburnum blossoms

This is why Laburnum is also called ‘Golden Chain Tree’

This genus has only three take species and several cultivar of which one has become preponderant and is so renowned that it is identify by the single Book , ‘ Vossii’.2Laburnum × watereri “ Vossii . ”(n.d . ) . Royal Horticultural Society . retrieve March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/44171/laburnum-x-watereri-vossii/details

The three species ’ leaves have middling different color , and they also vary as to whether they are smooth or hairy on the bottom .

All species ’ leave-taking are trifoliated – that is , each foliage is made up of three leaflets . Such leaves are also called ternate farewell .

beautiful yellow hanging racemes in a Laburnum arch

The brochure are lanceolate to ovate and are 2 to 3 cm .

Overview

PreferredFull Sun

ExposureExposed or Sheltered

Height4 – 8 M

laburnum tree in blossom hanging over a large lawned area in a beautiful garden

Spread4 – 8 M

Bloom TimeMay – June

PreferredMost Soil Types

laburnum flowering in spring

The exact hue of the racemes vary not only by species but also as the flowers mature

MoistureWell drained

pHAny

Though the summer show does not last very long at all , thereisa show and the flower are the stars of the show , which is a bewitch one .

yellow flowers of Laburnum shown against a cloudy blue sky background

For about a fortnight – three weeks if you are favorable – the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree give rise thick , lush caboodle of flowers that seem inter - connect .

These racemes dangle from the leg or cascade or tumble over whatever architectural structure limb have been educate against .

The hue ranges from a bright , gay yellow to a deep , golden chicken .

Golden Chain Tree shown in late spring with red leaves of a tree behind

Racemes vary in profusion , density and duration by variety of Laburnum .

On the species , the distance of the racemes range from 12 to 25 cm .

However , on the most democratic and beautiful of the cultivars , the aforementioned ‘ Vossii ’ , orL.×watereri‘Vossii ’ , they reach an amazing length of 60 centimetre . Call them ‘ showstopper . ’

Laburnum anagyroides with hanging yellow flowers and a housing estate in the background

The flowers are highly sweet ; however , the scent is an interesting and perhaps a heady one rather than a angelic fragrance .

Left alone , Laburnum will grow to be a humble , highly - pronged tree diagram .

It can be pruned and train to grow as a shrub , or as an upright tree with a branchless trunk and a heavy crownwork .

secateurs being used to snip the branches of a tree

Besides need some pruning , Laburnum are susceptible to quite a issue of cuss and disease .

As such , it is a high - care plant .

Planting

Laburnums should be planted in bound , preferably mid or tardy spring .

Laburnums are curiosities because they are average small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for eleven calendar month of the year but for near one month they are an ‘ A+ ’ in decorative value .

They are sometimes plant in neat rowing .

leaves of Petteria ramentacea shown in focus

They are usually trained so that the branches grow over an arch or any wall , or develop bland over a lattice cap of a arbor so that in flowering season it creates a gold - chain roof .

“ The garden at RHS Wisley has aLaburnum pergolathat for many years suffer from late frosts damaging the former summer unfolding display , ” excuse Horticultural Consultant Colin Skelly.3RHS Garden Wisley . ( n.d . ) . Royal Horticultural Society . Retrieved July 3 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

“ The curator , Matthew Pottage , task the garden squad with staying at the garden at nighttime during belated Frost and lighting fires under the pergola to keep the icing by from the flower bud .

Racemes of L. Watereri ‘Vossii’

L. Watereri ‘Vossii’

“ It worked , so if this is a problem in your garden , you know what to do ! ”

These small trees often gain from a sheltered location , especially in cold and blustery regions .

As their root are non - invasive , they can be grown flop beside all kinds of anatomical structure , such as a terrace or boundary wall.4Gilman , E. , & Watson , D. ( n.d.).Laburnum spp . US Forest Survey . retrieve March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/labsppa.pdfThe exact chromaticity of the racemes vary not only by species but also as the flowers maturate

an arch of golden rain tree in a modern garden

Laburnum arch

Habitat & Growing Conditions

As native of westerly and Southern Europe Laburnums prefer cooler climate and are not precisely patient of of high-pitched heat or humidity .

They are also not large-minded of cold weather , as may be inferred by their Hardiness Zones .

Laburnum is classified as H6 by the RHS ; making it hardy in all region of the UK .

Cool summers and moderate winter are idealistic for Laburnum .

In cold climate or regions that do not get sunny and hot in the summer , genus Laburnum should get full sun .

Otherwise , they should be protected from the noontide and afternoon Dominicus .

parallel also dictates where you should acquire a Laburnum .

Up in County Ross it should be grown in full sunlight ; down in Gibraltar , in part Lord’s Day .

Care & Growing Tips

genus Laburnum are well planted in autumn .

untried trees need support and should be staked .

Though these tree diagram are not fussy about soil , start them off with some compost or manure .

Laburnums grow well in any soil as long as it is not too acidulent or too alkaline ; pH slightly alkaline to slightly acid soil will do just fine .

A good loam mix is ideal . ground should be very well drain ; above all , Laburnums will not tolerate waterlogged soil .

matured flora should be water once a hebdomad or very lightly twice a week .

Though genus Laburnum are pretty drouth - large-minded , in live climates the soil should be keep moist in outpouring and summer .

It may be fertilised every spring with an constituent 10 - 20 - 10 or a deep compost .

Pruning Laburnum Tree

Laburnum can be grown as a shaggy bush , a fastigiate tree , and anything in between .

It depends on how you snip and civilize it .

If you would wish to grow the relatively strange Laburnum shrub , on the young tree reduce back the leader but allow the subaltern stem grow .

If you would wish it to grow grandiloquent and vertical , trim all lowly stems .

In either case , when it is a sapling you will need to back it .

When to prune , though ? Some expert opt for late - summer when the flowering season is over and the tree is growing and full of life sentence .

Others nominate winter when the tree is dormant and growth is at a stop .

However , we know whennotto prune Laburnum . Do not prune in spring or other summertime as the tree will ‘ shed blood ’ and it will be susceptible to infections .

What youshould‘prune ’ are the seed pods , and for dual reasons at that .

To start with , they are not exactly decorative . More importantly , they pass away the vigour of the tree .

Common Problems

All Laburnum kind are very prostrate to pestilence and diseases .

Pests include snail , aphids , mealybugs , and leaf miners – all three , Lepidoptera , Diptera , and Hymenoptera .

disease include canker , twig blight , leaf spot , powdery mildew , and fluent leaf .

At least most deer will steer clear of Laburnum – most , but not all !

Obviously , genus Laburnum are not low - care Tree .

You will need to learn about treatments and counteracting organisms such as beneficial nematode , lacewings , and mealybug ruiner .

infestation like powdery mould and sprig blight can just about only be resolved by cutting off affected part of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with sterilised pruning implement .

Uses Of Laburnum Wood

In general , Laburnum trunks yield a high - character Ellen Price Wood , and L. alpinum heartwood is one of the most seek - after woods .

It is very hard , has an appealing yellowish - brown coloring , is very bright and can be milled to a lovely sheen .

With such a list of attributes is it any wonderment that this wood is key as ‘ highly prise ’ ?

L. alpinumwood , particularly the duramen , is one of the top choices for cabinet - devising and parqueterie .

flute , vertical flute , and bagpipe used to be made almost only with Laburnum wood , and these melodic instrument are still made from this wood , among others .

Sourcing Laburnum

L.×watereri‘Vossii ’ is widely usable and is very well-fixed to retrieve in nurseries and garden centres .

The three species are also available , though at a more special issue of nurseries .

Specialist nurseries offer one or two of the former , make cultivars and one or two new ones .

References