Flowering garden trees-Laburnum tree

Laburnum, the yellow flowering garden tree is in full bloom in May and its radiant hanging flowers are a spectacular sight.
The abundant, bright yellow flowers of the Laburnum are responsible for its nickname, Golden Rain or the Golden Chain tree.

Laburnum is native to center and south of Europe.
The bright yellow, hanging flower clusters are very showy, especially planted in the neighborhood of contrasting, purple Chinese Wisteria vine or trees from the same family, blooming at the same period of the year.

The flowers, leaves and seed pods are also very similar to those of the Black locust tree with one major exception: all parts of the  Laburnum tree are poisonous.
Its pea-like seeds can be very dangerous for small, inquisitive children.

Large green pods develop from the flowers each year, which when ripe, turn brown and split. The seeds and every other part of the tree are poisonous, 15-20 seeds would constitute a lethal dose, if ingested.
In this last picture are visible the pods from last year, still hanging in the tree.

Another great companion for color combination in the landscape is the May flowering Redbud tree, with pink and magenta, pea-like flowers.