Golden Rain Tree
Koelreuteria paniculata · Sapindaceae · 모감주나무
How to spot it
Characterized by large yellow panicles, balloon- or lantern-like three-lobed capsules, and compound leaves whose basal leaflets are deeply cut.
Look
- Leaves
- Pinnate compound leaves whose basal leaflets are deeply cut, sometimes looking bipinnate.
- Flowers
- Bright yellow flowers open in large panicles.
- Fruit
- Papery, hollow, three-lobed capsules turn from green to yellowish brown and hold hard black seeds.
- Bark
- Light gray-brown bark with flat ridges and shallow reddish-brown furrows.
Where it grows
- In Korea
- Native (Korean Peninsula)
- Native to
- NC State records it as native to China, Korea, Japan and Manchuria.
- Ecology
- The flowers give nectar to bees. U.S. sources describe it as able to escape cultivation by self-seeding and spread into various habitats.
Famous Golden Rain Tree trees in Korea
- Golden Rain Tree of Songcheon-dong, AndongProvincial Monument · about 300 years · Songcheon-dong, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Golden Rain Tree Community of Daemun-ri, WandoNatural Monument No. 428 · Gunoe-myeon, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do
- Golden Rain Tree Community of Naegok-dongProvincial Monument · Naegok-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu
- Golden Rain Tree Community of Bokpyeong-ri, Jecheon (2025)Provincial Monument · Hansu-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
- Golden Rain Tree Community of Anmyeondo Island, TaeanNatural Monument No. 138 · Anmyeon-eup, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
- Golden Rain Tree and Korean Pearl Bush Community of Balsan-ri, PohangNatural Monument No. 371 · Donghae-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Golden Rain Tree Grove of Hannae-ri, GeojeProvincial Monument · Yeoncho-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Sources
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- 국립수목원 국가표준식물목록(자생식물)
- 대전광역시 한밭수목원, 제4차 수목원진흥실시계획(2019–2023)
- University of Richmond / Campus Trees: Koelreuteria paniculata
- 대구광역시 (2019), 제2차 대구광역시 도시림 등 조성·관리계획
- 한국농촌경제연구원 — 조경수 관측월보 2025년 12월(한국조경수협회 게시 원문)
- 국가유산청 국가유산포털(천연기념물 태안 안면도 모감주나무군락)
- 국가유산청 국가유산 공개API — 천연기념물 태안 안면도 모감주나무군락 설명
- 국가유산청 국가유산 공개API — 천연기념물 포항 발산리 모감주나무와 병아리꽃나무군락 설명