Koelreuteria paniculata (kol-ru-te-re-a pan-ik-u-la’-ta)
Family: Sapindaceae, Soapberry
Key Steps
- 1b – Alternate leaf arrangement — go to 18
- 18b – Leaf compound — go to 58
- 58b – More than 3 leaflets — go to 59
- 59d – Leaftlet margins coarsely and irregularly serrate or lobed — Goldenraintree
- 58b – More than 3 leaflets — go to 59
- 18b – Leaf compound — go to 58
Description
Leaf: Up to 14 inches long. Pinnately compound or bipinnately compound. Leaflets: 7-15, terminal leaflet present, lobed and/or coarsely and irregularly toothed. Hairy on veins underneath.
Bud: Small, roundish, brown, dull. Looks as though a football is “stuck” halfway into the stem, or like a “hershey kiss”. Two exposed scales. True terminal bud absent.
Leaf Scar: Large, raised, shield-shaped, 3 bundle scars.
Stem: Fairly stout, brown. Orange-brown lenticels.
Bark: Medium brown, not deeply furrowed.
Pith: Large, round, continuous, white.
Flower: Bright yellow, large, loose terminal panicle. Very showy in July.
Fruit: Papery 3-valved capsule that opens up to release black hard seeds. Capsule may persist through winter. Starts out green in the summer and by late fall is rich golden brown.
Habit: Rounded canopy. Good small ornamental. Twisted branching pattern. 15-25 feet tall.
Culture: Low moisture requirement once established. Salt tolerant. Experiences dieback in cold winters.
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