Voss's Laburnum Laburnum × watereri 'Vossii'
ABOUT
The plant commonly known as Voss's laburnum or golden chain tree is renowned for its stunning visual display. It has a graceful, arching growth habit that showcases pendant clusters of vibrant yellow flowers. These blossoms hang in elongated racemes, resembling golden chains that drape from the branches, creating a spectacular cascade of color in the spring. The leaves of the golden chain tree are trifoliate, meaning each leaf is comprised of three leaflets, which are typically green, imparting a lush, verdant appearance to the foliage. After the flowering season, the plant produces slender, bean-like seed pods. The bark of the golden chain tree is relatively smooth and has a grayish tint that contrasts pleasantly with the bright hues of the flowers and the dark green of the leaves. Overall, the plant presents a striking ornamental profile that is a highlight in any garden space when in bloom.
About this plant
NamesSynonyms
Voss's Laburnum, Golden Chain, Golden Rain
Common names
Laburnum watereri 'Vossii'.
ToxicityTo humans
Golden chain tree is highly toxic to humans. All parts of the plant, including the seeds, bark, and leaves, contain cytisine, an alkaloid that can cause severe poisoning. If ingested, symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and, in extreme cases, coma or death. Particular caution is advised to prevent children from ingesting any parts of the plant.
To pets
Golden chain tree is highly toxic to pets as well. Similar to its effects on humans, all parts of the golden chain tree contain cytisine and can lead to poisoning in pets if ingested. Symptoms of poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, lack of coordination, dilated pupils, convulsions, and potentially, respiratory failure leading to coma or death. It is important to prevent pets from chewing on any part of this plant.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Yellow
Height
20-25 feet (6-7.5 meters)
Spread
18 feet (5.5 meters)
Plant type
Tree
Hardiness zones
5
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental Beauty: The plant, commonly known as Golden Chain Tree, has pendulous racemes of vibrant yellow flowers that are visually striking in spring and early summer.
- Landscape Feature: Due to its size and form, it serves as an excellent focal point in gardens or can be used to line paths and driveways.
- Shade Provider: The canopy of the Golden Chain Tree can offer dappled shade, making it suitable for planting in areas where light shade is desired.
- Attracts Wildlife: Bees and other pollinators are attracted to the flowers, which is beneficial for garden biodiversity.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, it requires minimal care apart from occasional pruning to maintain its shape and remove any dead wood.
- Drought Tolerance: After the tree is well-established, it can tolerate periods of dryness, making it suitable for gardens in drier climates.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Ornamental Display: The Golden Chain Tree's vibrant yellow flowers that bloom in spring make it a popular ornamental plant in gardens and parks for its aesthetic appeal.
- Photography Background: The cascading blooms provide a picturesque backdrop for outdoor photography, especially for special events like weddings during its flowering season.
- Educational Tool: Due to its highly toxic seeds, the Golden Chain Tree can be used in educational settings to teach children and adults about plant toxicity and the importance of not eating unknown seeds or fruits.
- Bee Attraction: The flowers of the Golden Chain Tree are rich in nectar and thus serve as an excellent source of food for bees, making it valuable for supporting local bee populations.
- Horticultural Training: This species is sometimes used in horticultural colleges for training students in the care and management of ornamental plants, including pruning techniques.
- Living Fences: In some landscapes, Golden Chain Trees can be lined up and managed to form a living fence or barrier, although its toxic properties must be considered.
- Bonsai: Though not common, the Golden Chain Tree can be cultivated as a bonsai specimen, providing a challenge for bonsai enthusiasts to maintain its miniature size and shape.
- Urban Landscaping: The tree can be included in urban landscape designs, providing natural beauty and shade in city parks and along sidewalks, where its toxins pose less of a risk if properly managed.
- Carpentry and Woodcraft: On rare occasions and with expert knowledge, the hard and dense wood of mature trees may be used in creating small woodcraft items or turnery.
- Theatrical Scenery: Artificial Golden Chain Trees are sometimes used in theatrical productions or film sets to simulate an outdoor environment due to their distinctive and dramatic flowering.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Golden Chain Tree is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Golden Chain Tree is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Caution: The Laburnum, also known as the Golden Chain Tree, is known for its cascading racemes of vibrant yellow flowers that resemble golden chains. However, the tree's beauty hides a darker side, as all parts of it are highly poisonous. Due to its toxicity, it often symbolizes caution or the need for care. It's a reminder that not everything that glitters is gold and that beauty can sometimes be deceiving.
- Forsaken or Pensive Beauty: Because the Golden Chain Tree can be poisonous, it has historically been given a more somber association in the world of plant symbolism. It can represent something or someone that is visually striking yet can bring sadness or regret, much like a love that is remarkably beautiful but ultimately harmful.
- Transience: Despite its alluring display, the Laburnum's bloom is relatively short-lived. As a result, it is sometimes symbolically connected to the ephemeral nature of life or beauty, illustrating how moments of great appeal or emotion can be fleeting.
WaterGolden chain trees should be watered deeply and infrequently to encourage strong root growth. During the first growing season, water the newly planted tree once a week with about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water, depending on the soil type and weather conditions. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Once established, they require less frequent watering, benefiting from a soaking every two weeks if there has been no significant rainfall. Overwatering or poorly drained soil can lead to root rot, so ensure the tree is not sitting in waterlogged soil.
LightGolden chain trees thrive best in full sunlight to partial shade. They should be planted in a location where they receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. However, in areas with harsh afternoon sun, especially in warmer regions, some afternoon shade is beneficial to prevent scorching of the leaves.
TemperatureGolden chain trees do well in a wide range of temperatures, generally hardy from USDA zones 5 through 8. They can tolerate winter lows down to about -20°F and summer highs up to 80°F, though they are most comfortable in cooler summer temperatures. Extended periods of extreme heat may stress the tree, so placement in a location with some afternoon shade is ideal in hotter regions.
PruningPrune golden chain trees to remove dead or damaged wood and to maintain a pleasing shape. This is best done in the late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Pruning can also be done immediately after the flowering period to shape the tree and control its size. Avoid heavy pruning, as this can stimulate excessive growth at the expense of flowers.
CleaningNot needed
SoilThe Golden Chain Tree requires well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. A mix of loamy soil, rich in organic matter with added sand for improved drainage, makes the best soil composition for this plant. Regular garden soil amended with compost and a bit of perlite or coarse sand should support healthy growth.
RepottingGolden Chain Trees, when grown in containers, should generally be repotted every 2 to 3 years. However, given their size, they are more commonly planted directly into the ground where repotting is not necessary. When repotting, choose a container that is one size larger than the current one to allow for growth.
Humidity & MistingGolden Chain Trees thrive in average outdoor humidity levels. As a garden plant, it does not require specific humidity conditions, adapting well to the natural ambient moisture levels typical of temperate climates where the plant usually grows.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Not suited to grow indoors, needs outdoor conditions.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, well-draining soil; water regularly.
Hardiness zone
5-7 USDA
Life cycleThe life cycle of the Laburnum × watereri 'Vossii', commonly known as the Voss's laburnum or Golden Chain Tree, begins with seed germination, which occurs when conditions are moist and warm, typically in spring. After germination, the seedling emerges and develops into a juvenile tree, focusing on root and shoot growth and typically lacking significant flowering during this period. As the plant matures and enters the adult stage, it starts to allocate more resources to reproduction, producing long cascading racemes of yellow flowers in late spring to early summer, which are highly attractive to pollinators. Following pollination, the flowers develop into legume pods containing the seeds, which eventually mature by late summer to autumn and are released into the environment for dispersal. The tree continues to grow and flower annually, with a lifespan that can exceed several decades under favorable conditions, during which it may undergo periods of dormancy in winter, shedding its leaves to conserve resources. Finally, as the tree reaches the end of its life cycle, it experiences a decline in vigor and reproductive capacity, eventually leading to its death and the decomposition of its organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the cycle.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: The popular method of propagation for the Golden Chain Tree, Laburnum × watereri 'Vossii', is by semi-hardwood cuttings. This technique typically involves taking cuttings during the late summer when the current season's growth has begun to mature and harden slightly. The cuttings should be about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) in length and contain several leaf nodes. The lower leaves are removed and the cut end is often dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cutting is then inserted into a well-draining rooting medium such as a mix of peat and perlite or sand. The cutting should be kept at a consistent humidity by covering with a plastic bag or placed in a propagator, and it is important to keep it in indirect light and at a stable temperature until roots develop, which can take several weeks. After rooting, the cutting can be carefully transplanted into a larger pot or into the garden.
