Laburnum

Laburnum
Common name   Golden chain or golden rain tree
Botanical name   Laburnum anagyroides
Details   Also known as golden rain or golden chain due to yellow pea-flowers in pendulous leafless racemes 10–40 cm long in spring, which makes them popular garden trees. All parts of the plant are poisonous, although mortality is very rare.
Drought tolerance  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Tags     deciduous  flowers  N fixer  yellow 
Price   $3.90  20 seeds
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Laburnum plants, also known as golden chain or golden rain, are ornamental trees and shrubs that belong to the genus Laburnum in the Fabaceae family. They are primarily grown for their attractive flowers and ornamental value in gardens and landscapes. However, it's essential to note that all parts of the laburnum plant, especially the seeds, contain toxic compounds (alkaloids), and caution should be exercised when handling or planting them, particularly in areas frequented by children or pets.

Here are some uses and qualities of laburnum plants:

  1. Ornamental Purposes: Laburnum plants are primarily cultivated for their beautiful, drooping clusters of bright yellow flowers. These flowers add a striking visual appeal to gardens and landscapes, making them popular choices for ornamental planting.
  2. Landscape Aesthetics: Laburnum trees, with their pendulous flowers and lush green foliage, are often used as focal points in landscape design. They can provide an eye-catching display when in full bloom, especially in spring.
  3. Arches and Pergolas: Laburnum's graceful, cascading branches make them suitable for training over arches, pergolas, or trellises, creating stunning garden features and providing shade.
  4. Attracts Pollinators: The abundant flowers of laburnum attract various pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, contributing to the overall biodiversity of the garden.
  5. Low Maintenance: Once established, laburnum plants generally require minimal maintenance, making them suitable for gardeners seeking low-effort ornamental options.
  6. Tolerant of Poor Soils: Laburnums can tolerate a range of soil conditions, including less fertile or sandy soils, as long as they are well-draining.

Qualities:

  1. Aesthetic Appeal: The most prominent feature of laburnum plants is their stunning display of golden yellow flowers, which adds a splash of color to any landscape.
  2. Deciduous Habit: Laburnum trees are deciduous, shedding their leaves in the fall, which can allow more sunlight to penetrate the garden during the winter months.
  3. Shape and Size: Depending on the species and cultivar, laburnum plants can grow as small trees or shrubs, offering flexibility in terms of the space they occupy.
  4. Adaptability: Laburnums are generally hardy and adaptable plants, able to thrive in a variety of climate conditions, although they prefer full sun.

It's important to reiterate the toxicity of laburnum plants, especially their seeds, which resemble small beans. Ingestion of any part of the plant can cause severe poisoning and even be fatal. Therefore, if you choose to grow laburnum plants, take necessary precautions, such as planting them in areas inaccessible to children and pets, and be cautious when handling them.

Scarification - Preparing hard tree seeds for planting

Many trees have seeds with extremely hard coatings. This allows them to remain viable for a long time, waiting for a trigger such as fire or abrasion due to erosion to activate the growing stage. These seeds require some form of scarification to encourage germination.

This is typical of several leguminous, pod bearing tree species such as tagasaste, locust, laburnum, carob etc.

There are several ways to perform the scarification prior to planting the seeds.
Laburnum

Laburnum

Common name   Golden chain or golden rain tree
Family   Fabaceae
Details   Yellow pea-flowers in pendulous leafless racemes 10–40 cm (4–15.5 in) long in spring, which makes them very popular garden trees.

All parts of the plant are poisonous, although mortality is very rare. Symptoms of laburnum poisoning may include intense sleepiness, vomiting, convulsive movements, coma, slight frothing at the mouth and unequally dilated pupils.
Flowers   Yellow
Diameter   6.00
Height (m)   6
Drought tolerance  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun / part shade
Soil type   Most
Wind tolerance   Good
Tags     perennial  tree  legume  hardy