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Koelreuteria paniculata
Choose Golden Rain Tree for one of the few shade trees that blooms in summer — bright yellow flower panicles cover the canopy in July, followed by papery lantern-like seed pods that hang on into fall. It is hardy, adaptable, and tough in New England, handling heat, drought, and poor soil once established. The tradeoff: it self-sows and drops flowers and pods, so give it room away from patios and walks.
| Category | Grade | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Impact | A- | Bright yellow summer flowers and papery lantern pods give it a long, unusual season of interest few shade trees match. |
| Growth Rate | B+ | It grows at a good pace and establishes easily, filling a sunny spot without a long wait. |
| Maintenance | B | It is adaptable and easy to grow, but it self-sows and drops flowers and pods, so plan for some cleanup. |
| Deer Resistance | B+ | Deer tend to leave this tree alone, though young plants can be browsed or rubbed where pressure is heavy. |
| Small Space Fit | C | It matures to a broad 30-40 foot canopy, so it needs open space rather than a tight bed. |
| Screening Value | D | It is a deciduous canopy tree for shade and flowers, not a privacy screen. |
At PGNE, we'd typically recommend Golden Rain Tree for New England homeowners who want summer flower color and a tough, adaptable shade tree for a sunny, open spot. It is reliably hardy here (zone 5), takes heat, drought, and poor soil, and only asks for room to spread and a little cleanup under the canopy.
| Botanical Name | Koelreuteria paniculata |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Golden Rain Tree |
| Mature Height | 30-40 ft |
| Mature Width | 30-40 ft |
| Hardiness Zones | 5a-9b |
| Spacing | 20-30 ft |
| Sun | Full Sun |
| Moisture | Dry to average; drought tolerant once established |
| Growth Habit | Rounded, spreading canopy |
| Evergreen | No |
| Native | No (native to eastern Asia) |
Yes; it is reliably hardy to zone 5 and grows well across NH, MA, and ME in a sunny spot.
In mid-summer (usually July), when large yellow flower clusters cover the canopy — followed by decorative lantern-like seed pods.
It drops flowers and papery pods and can self-seed, so plant it away from patios and walkways and expect some cleanup.
Pro Growers of New England, Inc
SKU:PGNE-22099
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Very dedicated and professional. We are happy with the way they planted 14 trees for us. 11 green giants, 2 white pines and 1 Norway spruce.
Picked up my plants-ostrich ferns and blue ice amsonia without any problems! Wonderful, responsive owners! Will be buying from them in the future!
Showed up on time and planted it perfectly. I indicated a light we had to illuminate it and they placed it for optimal lighting. Worked fast and left a clean worksite. First rate!
Really great website, communication and installation. Very happy customer and would recommend them.
They delivered three trees: a big linden, a big poplar and a little spice bush with install on the big trees. The install guys were great and professional and fast. All the trees looked good with minimal damage.
I went up there today from Quincy MA to pick up two Blue Wichita Junipers and they were absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Chris and everybody from Pro Growers of New England!
The plants are beautiful and all 13 were consistent in height and width. And at a fraction of the cost of other garden centers. Having the team that delivered them do the planting was one of the best values I can think of. They did a great job from start to finish and even helped me with my watering system which they didn’t have to do!
