Golden Rain Tree is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11 and shrugs off deer. Its late spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
5-11
pH Range
4.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Golden Rain Tree on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether golden rain tree actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score golden rain tree against your land's real conditions.
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What Golden Rain Tree is
Golden Rain Tree grows as a perennial and reaches around 35 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in late spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Golden Rain Tree
Golden Rain Tree grows in USDA zones 5 through 11. Golden Rain Tree does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8. It needs a growing season of at least 110 frost-free days and about 300 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-28°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
35 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
300+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
110+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set golden rain tree in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Golden Rain Tree prefers pH 4.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — golden rain tree is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Golden Rain Tree offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Golden Rain Tree thrives
Golden Rain Tree is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–11·Where Golden Rain Tree growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Golden Rain Tree can grow in these states:
See if Golden Rain Tree will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether golden rain tree actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Golden Rain Tree in my zone?
Golden Rain Tree grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Golden Rain Tree?
Set golden rain tree out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Golden Rain Tree need?
Golden Rain Tree needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Golden Rain Tree need?
Golden Rain Tree prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Golden Rain Tree attract pollinators?
Yes — golden rain tree's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Golden Rain Tree safe for pets?
Golden Rain Tree is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.