With its cascading yellow blooms, Laburnum—better known as Golden Chain Tree—quickly becomes the star of any backyard. If you pick a spot that checks all the right boxes for this beauty, it’ll reward you with a stunning display. Here’s everything you need to know about finding the perfect home for your Golden Chain Tree.
What Your Golden Chain Tree Really Wants
You might think a tree this gorgeous would be high-maintenance, but it’s actually surprisingly easygoing! One of the best things about the Golden Chain Tree is how adaptable it is to different soil types. If you want to give it the “VIP treatment,” aim for dry soil that’s a bit loamy or alkaline (chalky). But don’t sweat it if your yard isn’t perfect—this hardy plant can even handle relatively poor or thin soil.
The second big thing to consider is sunlight. You definitely want to avoid deep shade. For the best results, plant your tree in a spot that gets full sun to partial shade. This ensures it stays healthy and produces those iconic blossoms that bees absolutely love. During the blooming season, those hanging clusters are like an all-you-can-eat nectar buffet for our favorite pollinators.
Give It Some Elbow Room
Space is another key factor when choosing a location. While the Golden Chain Tree has a fairly compact growth habit at first, it can spread out quite a bit as it matures. Unlike some other garden shrubs, it doesn’t always take kindly to heavy pruning to keep it small. It’s much better to pick a spot from the get-go where it has plenty of room to reach its full size without crowding its neighbors.
Quick tips for keeping your tree happy:
- Keep it well-watered
- Feed it with some good compost
- Prune lightly only when necessary
One last pro-tip: think about what’s happening underground, too. These trees have sensitive root systems that don’t like to be messed with. Because they hate root damage, transplanting a mature tree is a risky move. It’s best to pick a “forever home” right away. If you want to fill in the space around the base, just be sure to choose companion plants that play nice with its roots!
