Chinese rain tree (Koelreuteria elegans subsp. formosana)
Also known as:
golden rain tree, Chinese flame tree
Chinese rain tree is a fast growing deciduous tree. It has escaped home gardens to invade urban parks, bushland, gullies and streets.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Chinese rain tree is a problem weed in Japan and the USA, where it has naturalised across five states. Due to its rapid growth habit and high seed viability in warmer climates, Chinese rain tree may crowd out native plant populations. It was first recognised as a naturalised environmental weed in the 1990s in the Brisbane City Council area where it has invaded urban parks, bushland, gullies and streets.
Where is it found?
Chinese rain tree has naturalised in Brisbane and near Noosa in Queensland and near Lismore in NSW. Although only in the early stages of establishment, this weed has the potential to seriously degrade Australia’s ecosystems.
How does it spread?
Chinese rain tree reproduces by seed, which can germinate within 6–8 days. Recorded infestations of the plant in Australia may be traced back to escapees from gardens, urban parks and street trees. It is not known exactly how the seeds are dispersed, but it is possible that water may contribute.
What does it look like?
Chinese rain tree is a small, deciduous tree. It has been recorded in Australia as growing to approximately 5 m tall, and up to 18 m under ideal conditions and may achieve a spread of 10-15 m when mature.
It has compound leaves (ie made up of several distinct leaflets) that are dark green above and paler green below and of variable size and shape. The leaves are hairless, often appear feathery and measure up to 90 mm in length. The leaflets are narrow, ovate (pointed at one end and rounded at the other), and have irregularly toothed edges and a long, tapering point. Each leaflet is approximately 90 mm in length.
Flowers are small, to 20 mm in length, and occur in branched clusters at the stem tips. They are butter-yellow with five petals that vary in length until opening. Each flower contains seven to eight pale yellow stamens with hairy white filaments.
The fruit/seed pod is an inflated papery capsule that splits into three parts and is light pink to deep rose in colour. Fruits are up to 50 mm long and appear in large drooping clusters. The seeds are small, black and round and about 5 mm in diameter.
The trunk is light brown and smooth when young, but may develop ridges later.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Chinese rain tree is native to Taiwan and thrives in temperate climates. It tolerates full sun, partial shade, drought, frost, heat, well drained to wet soils, extended flooding and air pollution. It grows on a wide range of soil types and may be tolerant of light salt spray, but not of saline conditions.
Acknowledgements
CRC for Australian Weed Management: Hillary Cherry (University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants), Rod Wood (Brisbane City Council, Environment Department), John Hosking (NSW DPI).
More information
Control
Because there are relatively few Chinese rain tree infestations, and it can potentially be eradicated before it becomes established, any new outbreaks should be reported immediately to your local council's weed officer. Do not try to control it without their expert assistance. Control effort that is poorly performed or not followed up can actually help spread the weed and worsen the problem.
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 35 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L
(Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 21 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut stump, drill, frill axe or injection
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
with Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 1:1.5 glyphosate to water + 1 g metsulfuron to 1 L water
Comments: Stem injection
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2018
