Golden rain tree

Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm.

Family: Sapindaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

n/a

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

Not yet checked.

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

Dogs, cats, horses: no toxicity statement at NC State, RHS, UF/IFAS, USU or Illinois (NC State has no Poison Severity line for this plant). CONABIO lists human, animal and plant health impacts as unknown (no information). Absence of a statement is not an all-clear.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Other plants with a similar name or look. To tell them apart: Match on the scientific name, Koelreuteria paniculata, not on the common name.. 'Golden rain tree' (Koelreuteria paniculata) is not 'golden chain tree' (Laburnum anagyroides), which NC State lists as often confused with it; Laburnum's safety is not checked in this guide, so treat any mix-up as unsafe. Also 'varnish tree' and 'pride of India' are used for this plant by NC State and RHS, and 'pride of India' is also a name for other plants: confirm by scientific name.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 5a-8b per NC State Plant Toolbox; USDA 5-9 per Utah State University TreeBrowser; USDA 5B-9B per UF/IFAS (cultivar 'Fastigiata' only); RHS H5 per RHS (the profile text shows H5 after the rating scale)
Light: Full sun per NC State and RHS.
Water needs: moderate
Mature size: US: 30-40 ft tall and 30-40 ft wide per NC State; 25-35 ft tall per Illinois Extension; UK: RHS: max height 8-12 m, spread wider than 8 m, 20-50 years to maturity; MX: CONABIO: 7-12 m tall; cultivar: 'Fastigiata': about 30 ft tall, 6 ft wide per NC State; 20-30 ft tall, 4-7 ft spread per UF/IFAS
Where it comes from: China, Japan, Korea and Manchuria per NC State; China and Korea per RHS and CONABIO. Not native to GB/Ireland (RHS), not native to North America. Introduced to North America in 1763 (NC State).

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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