Golden Raintree

Arbor Walk #24, Treekeeper ID #3978

This tree’s unique foliage, summer blooming yellow flowers, and lantern-like fruit make it one of the most interesting trees in the campus forest.

Although the Golden Raintree is mainly admired for its beauty, these tree are actually quite durable and weather resistant. Native to Eastern Asia, it has a moderately short lifespan of about 50 years, and is generally planted around walkways, patios and streets.

Common NameGolden Raintree
Latin NameKoelreuteria paniculata
Indigenous Name(s) 
Cultivar/Variety 
Commercial Name 
Global Distribution
Where to find Arbor Walk #24 on WashU campus
Our Golden Raintree in space
GPS Coordinates

N/A

Percent Concrete

N/A

Distance to Buildings
YearClose Building #1Close Building #2Close Building #3
2020Umrath Hall, 11.45 mGraham Chapel, 15.69 mMallinckrodt, 58.93 m
Distance to Other Species
YearClose Species #1Close Species # 2Close Species # 3
2020Eastern Redbud, 3.14 mEastern Redbud, 4.46 mLittleleaf Liden, 6.12 m
Our Golden Raintree through time
Standard Measurements
YearHeight (m)DBH (cm)Caliper (m)Crown Diameter N-S (m)Crown Diameter E-W (m)Average Crown Diameter (m)
202015.128660.1N/A12.5412.8912.715
202317.3762.5N/A12.6414.613.62
202421.0263.2N/A14.214.114.15
Nests and Pests
YearDescription
20201 songbird nest
Protrusions that may be pruning scars or cankers; holes can be seen, but are not deep/ inhabited
One wound/scar in the trunk is reddish in color and is oddly shaped (looks like it has small scrapes on the inside and around the edges)
How to identify a Golden Raintree
Leaf Identification

The leaves of the Golden Raintree are pinnately compound. They are a dark green and turn yellow in the fall. The terminal leaflet is flanked by two small leaflets, similar to many sumacs. Lateral leaflets are broadly toothed and have sinuses (inlet between lobes) halfway up the leaflet.

Twig and Bud Identification

Bark Identification

The bark is light gray to brown, with vertical furrows that form slight ridges. The ridges are not equally sized, creating a complex bark texture.

Fruit Identification

The Golden Raintree has lantern-shaped, three-sectioned fruit. When immature, the fruits are green or yellow in color and papery. When they mature, they turn yellow-brown. The fruits are dehiscent (the capsule splits open to release the seeds inside). The fruits mature at the start of fall.

Flower Identification

The flowers of the Golden Raintree are yellow. They are typically 1/2″ long, and they form 1 to 15 long, wide panicles. They bloom in mid summer.

Relationship of Koelreuteria paniculata to other species in the arboretum
Additional resources on the Golden Raintree

Take a look around Arbor Walk Tree #24