Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ (Golden Chain Tree)

A spectacular sight in late spring, Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ (Golden Chain Tree) is a deciduous large shrub or small tree of breathtaking beauty when in full bloom. Reminiscent of golden chains, it produces an abundance of drooping clusters, up to 24 in. long (60 cm), of fragrant pea-like yellow flowers. The flowers are followed by attractive, bean-like pods, which ripen in the fall. The leaves, consisting of 3 leaflets, are glossy, deep green. This hybrid results from a cross between L. alpinum and L. anagyroides. It is by far the best variety of Laburnum because its racemes are the longest, and they bear dense crops of flowers. Moreover, the poisonous seeds are not as abundant as in other varieties, and gardeners often remove them to ensure good flowering the following year.

• Grows vigorously up to 15-30 ft. tall and wide (4-9 m).
• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Thrives in full sun or part shade, in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Best flower production is obtained in full sun, but afternoon shade is welcomed in hot summer areas. Does not tolerate heat and humidity.
• Can be grown as a specimen tree or trained for arbors, pergolas, or espaliers.
• Susceptible to twig blight, canker, leaf spot, aphids, and mealybugs.
• Remove root suckers if trained as a small tree as well as the seedpods, which consume plant energies and are poisonous.
• May be propagated from hardwood cuttings in winter.
• All parts of this tree are poisonous.