Also known as the Golden Rain tree, and often grown as a specimen tree, Laburnums are known for their glorious long racemes of golden yellow scented pea-like flowers hanging from the branches in early summer with grey-green new shoots and green oval shaped leaflets. Blooming at a young age, they are loved by Bees.

A small deciduous spreading tree, a hybrid of the common laburnum and member of the Pea family, Laburnums are easy and fast growing, liking well-drained fertile soil, (they like chalky soil too) in full sun with some shade tolerance.

Laburnum do not like wet or heavy soil, will tolerate urban pollution and mature trees are drought hardy. Their roots fix nitrogen into the soil so they are a good tree for sites with poor fertility. If pruning is needed, aim to do it from end of summer to December, otherwise tree will bleed a lot.

Cultivation: Cottage, Informal, Urban sites & as a small Specimen tree

Soil: Well-drained fertile, Chalk, Clay, Loam soil

Position: Full sun, some partial shade, North, South, East, West aspect. Exposed/Sheltered

Foliage: Deciduous

Flowering: Scented golden yellow racemes

Habit: Open, spreading  small tree

Hardiness: Fully hardy, low maintenance

Growth: Fast growing

Benefits to Wildlife: Loved by Bees & other wildlife

Height & Spread in Maturity:  5-8m x 3- 4m

RHS Award of Garden Merit.

History:  A hybrid of the laburnum alphinium & Laburnum aanagyroides is named after a type raised at Waterers Nurseries in Knaphill, Surrey in or before 1864. Vossi was raised in Holland in the late 19^th century.

Of Interest: Laburnum waterii vossii is a hybrid and very popular as it produces very few poisonous seed which are a worry with the common laburnum. Rabbits love young Laburnum so you must use a tree guard to protect them.