Koelreuteria elegans – Flamegold Tree –

Description

Koelreuteria – There are three species of deciduous trees and shrubs in this genus.  Found in dry valley woodlands in Eastern Asia.  They produce alternate, pinnate or 2 pinnate leaves and large pyramidal panicles, 4-14” long of shallowly bowl shaped flowers, followed by unusually inflated fruit capsules.  They are fine specimen trees, flowering best in areas with hot summers. Grow in moderately fertile, well drained and aerated soil in full sun. Prone to dieback, canker, mushroom root rot, and wilt. K. elegans – Flamegold Tree – From Taiwan, this species is suited to most tropical and subtropical climates.  It grows to 40’ feet tall, forming a spreading, flat topped tree with large, mid green, ferny, bi-pinnate-compound leaves.  In late summer to fall, long panicles of rich yellow flowers open towards the branch ends followed by bladder-like pods that split into 3 rose hued segments and turn brown in winter. Zones 9-12