Golden rain trees not a golden choice for Florida landscapes

Golden rain trees get a gold medal for their ability to slow down traffic and produce audible gasps. Bright yellow flowers burst open all over the place, which on a 40-foot by 35-foot tree is a bud load of fall color. An entire spectator sport could be created around this one stunning specimen, but sadly, it’s not a champion tree. Despite being called a ray of sunshine, this evergreen is clouded with negatives.

Messy and invasive

Golden rain trees produce clusters of vibrant yellow flowers followed by peach-colored “lanterns” that produce fruit (sometimes they flower and fruit at the same time for a spectacular display). They grow best in full sun and can tolerate a wide range of soils. But seeds spilling from the fruit can germinate in six days or less, resulting in their classification as exotic invasives. These trees are non-native to Florida, originating from northern China and Korea. 

Weak wood and stinky bugs

Additionally, because they’re such fast growers, their wood becomes weak, so it’s not uncommon to see their limbs snap in high winds. And those seeds we were talking about? They attract stinky jadera bugs by the thousands, so much so that they’ve been called “golden rain tree bugs.” You’re looking at a mess of seeds and a mass of insect stains if you step near the tree.

Golden rain tree alternatives

ArtisTree’s best advice? If you’ve got a thing for yellow trees, consider tabebuia or glaucous cassia for your Florida landscape and stick to admiring golden rain trees from afar. And if you already have a golden rain tree, keep an eye on it. Your neighbors will thank you.

Ready to get your dream landscape off the ground? Call ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design and let’s get your renovation started. Contact Jenni Lassen at 941.488.8897 or jennil@artistree.com, and she’ll schedule you with one of our award-winning designers. ArtisTree serves Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte counties and south Hillsborough counties. We also provide community-wide landscape maintenance services for homeowner associations.

Category News, Trees