Regards

Karn

Andrew.

Regards Karn

Koelreuteria paniculata is also known as the Golden Rain Tree - deciduous, attractive leaves indented a bit like English oak leaves, bright yellow flowers and large lantern shaped seed pods. Leaves turn a lovely pink in autumn.

There is also a Golden Chain tree which is a Laburnum. A friend of mine has both of these and constantly confuses them.

I suggest you do a Google for both Koelreuteria paniculata and Cassia fistula (which is also known as Golden Shower Tree), adding "picture" to the search line and compare photos with a leaf from your little tree.

Personally, I wouldn't care if it was Rain or Shower, as long as something wet fell from the sky. I'm facing yet another year of drought and more losses in the garden.

Regards
Karn

You say you get frosts so the Golden Chain (Laburnum vossi) may be ideal for you, but I dont know if it will like our summer heat as I grew it in Melbourne, I liked it so much that when I moved to Townsville and seen one almost the same I bought some they were Golden showers (Cassia fistula) they both have the pendulous bunches of wisteria like flowers in the spring, but this one does not like frost it more suited to Qld weather.

I have two trees here in Brisbane planted from the seeds I bought with me from Townsville they are only about 60cms tall at present and bare as they loose there leaves before flowering, and as yet have not flowered.

Next time you buy any plants do try and get the Botanical Name as like Wombat said the Common names can be a bit of a trap.

MM.

Karn

It self seeds everywhere, we both are forever pulling out seedlings, we built our house here just on four years ago and neighbour on oposite side planted three Grevillea Robusta in one hole four foot from the other boundry fence about two years ago, they are not as big as yours but I dread those seeds blowing on to my land in years to come.

Now the Liquidamber that is a beautiful tree as you say. I planted my first one in April of this year, and the Autumn colours were fantastic mostly reds it has not grown any taller as yet, and is only about 70cm tall they grow well in this area as I have seen so many.

Have you seen a Illawarra or Australian Flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolium ) they are spectular too, a conical shaped tree that is a mass of red flowers in the Summer after dropping its leaves, but they take a few years to flower.

Good luck with your tree planting Karn, you will have a wonderful garden in years to come -------- MM.

If you have the room, you might consider a Laburnum Walk. There are some piccies at the site below. This one is grown over what looks like a metal frame but the original idea was to pleach them - basically getting branches from two or more trees of the same variety to grow together. If a walk seems a little OTT, two trees over a path or creating an arbour would be a pretty picture.

We are pretty lucky here. With a lousy climate and miserable soil, not much reseeds itself. There are a few mature Koelreuteria paniculatas here (mine is a seedling from one) and they do grow into lovely, round headed trees.

Karn

BUT - see Wooroonooran's posting above re invasive nature of them in some areas (luckily not mine). Even the dreaded lantana succumbs to our climate.

Re "pleaching" - this is a technique where branches from two or more trees are actually grafted together. For the extreme sports version of this have at look at this site.

karn

Will be looking at that treecircus site: crikey!
Rose

MM.

At least with the internet, we can look at all these wonderful plants, places, etc. without putting too much strain on the old bod (or the pension replenished purse).