Golden Chain Tree is a small, low-branched, deciduous tree or large shrub that is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. It typically grows to 15 to 25 feet tall. It is most noted for its profuse and showy late spring bloom of gorgeous yellow flowers in 12 inch dense, pendulous, wisteria-like racemes. Flowers are beautifully displayed against deep green leaves; few trees are more lovely in flower. Trifoliate leaves with elliptic-lanceolate to obovate leaflets each to 3 inches long are a dull green to gray green with pubescence underneath. Pea-like fruits in seed pods to 2 inches long ripen in fall. All parts of this plant, particularly the seeds, are poisonous.
