Columnar Golden Chain Tree

‘Columnaris’ is a named Laburnum selection described as densely columnar and very slow growing, giving it a narrow vertical outline for a specimen planting. [Trees and Shrubs Online](https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/laburnum/laburnum-anagyroides/) discusses the selection under *L. anagyroides* but notes that an older nursery catalog listed a ‘Columnaris’ under *L. × watereri*. Its exact parentage is therefore treated cautiously while the cultivar identity is retained. ## Garden character Laburnums carry trifoliate leaves and pendant racemes of pea-shaped flowers; common laburnum’s flowers are golden yellow and appear in late spring to early summer. The narrow habit makes ‘Columnaris’ useful where a spreading crown would crowd a path or nearby planting, though a columnar outline does not make it a miniature tree. [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/87530/laburnum-anagyroides/details) describes common laburnum as a deciduous flowering tree for full sun and well-drained soil. The species profile is a guide to the broader genus, not a measured size report for this selection. ## Site and safety Give it a sunny, well-drained position and enough room for its eventual height. Laburnum seeds and other plant parts are poisonous if eaten, so keep fallen pods away from children and pets. Avoid assuming that every nursery plant sold under a species or hybrid label has the same ancestry; the genus includes distinct species and cultivated crosses. ## Maintenance Because ‘Columnaris’ grows slowly, allow its natural upright form to develop rather than repeatedly cutting it back. Remove dead or damaged branches after flowering, collect seedpods where needed, and wear gloves when pruning.