Golden Robinia

Golden Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia') is grown for foliage rather than flowers. The ferny leaves open bright gold in spring, hold a lime gold through summer and deepen to butter yellow before dropping, on a fast growing deciduous tree of about 8m tall and 5m wide. Few trees light up a lawn or a driveway as reliably, and it does it on poor, dry ground.

Why you'll love it

• Colour for three seasons. The gold is in the leaf itself, so the display runs from the first spring flush right through to leaf drop.
• Fast shade. It puts on height quickly, which makes it a sensible choice when a new garden needs a canopy sooner rather than later.
• Deciduous by design. Dense shade over summer, then bare branches that let winter sun back onto the house and lawn.
• Undemanding. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil.

Where it works best

Feature tree on a lawn. A single specimen in open lawn is the classic use, where the gold canopy carries against green and the crown has room to spread.

Shade tree. Planted to the west or north west of a living area it takes the heat out of summer afternoons without darkening the house in winter.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 6m to 8m apart for an even avenue. Closer than that and the crowns compete, which pushes the trees up rather than out.

Growing Golden Robinia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, which the foliage colour depends on. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is genuinely frost hardy. In hot humid subtropical districts the colour is less reliable and growth is coarser.

Soil. Almost any soil that drains, including dry, shallow and poor ground. Avoid sites that stay waterlogged in winter. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep water weekly through the first two summers, then it largely looks after itself. Feeding is rarely necessary and heavy nitrogen only produces soft growth that breaks in wind.

Pruning. Prune in winter to balance the crown and remove crossing limbs, because the timber is brittle in storms. Wear gloves, as the stems carry thorns. Two honest drawbacks: it suckers freely from the roots, so expect to cut or mow suckers each year, and all parts are toxic if eaten, which rules it out near stock.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 400mm pots and in advanced 45L and 100L sizes. The 400mm trees are young, with a single leader, and they catch up fast. The 45L and 100L trees arrive with real height and a formed framework, which is the usual choice for a driveway.

Being deciduous, a tree delivered from late autumn to early spring arrives bare, which is normal and the best planting window. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse deciduous trees
• Choosing trees to line a driveway
• Plants with strong autumn colour
• Compare driveway and avenue trees

Common questions

Does it really sucker?

Yes, freely, and it is the main drawback of the tree. Suckers come up well away from the trunk, so plan for an annual cut or mow, and avoid planting it in a bed of low shrubs.

How fast does it grow?

Quickly. In a sunny position with water through the first two summers it puts on strong annual growth and makes useful shade within a few years.

Does it flower?

Only sparsely. Grafted 'Frisia' plants produce few of the white pea flowers of the species, so buy it for the golden foliage, not the bloom.

Is it safe around pets and stock?

No. All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten, and the stems are thorny. Keep it away from paddocks and think carefully before planting it where animals chew bark.

Western Australia: this plant is listed as an environmental weed in WA, where it escapes from gardens into bushland. We do not recommend it for WA gardens. Please choose a local alternative.