Trees with golden-yellow foliage illuminate the garden, offering a splash of sunshine and contrast against the usual green. At Seeds Wild, we bring you a curated selection of trees with vibrant golden leaves to brighten up your outdoor space.
Golden Cappadocian Maple – Acer cappadocicum ‘Aureum’
The Golden Cappadocian Maple (Acer cappadocicum ‘Aureum’) showcases striking yellow foliage edged with red in spring, transitioning to soft green in summer and golden yellow in autumn. This tree reaches up to 15 meters tall with a rounded shape, and thrives in ordinary, slightly moist soils. It is hardy to -20°C and prefers partial shade to full sun. Perfect for a standout feature in the garden, it also pairs well with flowering shrubs like Hibiscus and Viburnum.
Golden Locust Tree – Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’
The Golden Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’) combines golden-yellow foliage with fragrant white spring flowers. Its leaves turn bright green-yellow in summer and orange in autumn. This fast-growing tree reaches up to 8 meters tall and tolerates various soils, even poor ones, as long as it gets full sun. Ideal as a solitary specimen or in a large hedge, it brings light and beauty to any garden. Note: While its flowers are edible, other parts of the plant are toxic.
Golden American Red Oak – Quercus rubra ‘Aurea’
Quercus rubra ‘Aurea’ stands out with golden-yellow spring leaves that turn green-yellow in summer and vibrant red and orange in autumn. This slow-growing tree can reach up to 15 meters tall and thrives in well-drained, acidic to neutral soils. It prefers full sun and is hardy to -23°C. Perfect as an isolated tree, it also complements other small shrubs like Camellia and Hydrangea.
Golden Honey Locust – Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’
The Golden Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’) features glossy yellow spring foliage that turns anise green in summer and golden-copper in autumn. This thornless, fast-growing tree reaches up to 12 meters tall and adapts to various soils. It prefers full sun and is hardy to -15°C. Ideal for creating light shade, it works well as a solitary tree or in a mixed hedge.
Golden American Sweetgum – Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Naree’
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Naree’ offers bright yellow spring foliage that turns chartreuse green in summer and a palette of yellow, orange, and red in autumn. This tree reaches up to 15 meters tall with a pyramidal shape and prefers acidic to neutral, slightly moist soils. It thrives in full sun and is hardy to -23°C. Perfect as a standalone feature, it also pairs beautifully with trees like Ginkgo biloba and Japanese maple.
Golden Catalpa – Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’
Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ has large heart-shaped leaves that turn from purplish copper in spring to golden yellow in summer and fall. It produces white flowers with purple hearts in May. This spreading tree reaches up to 7 meters tall and prefers sunny or partially shaded locations. It is hardy to -20°C and thrives in various soils. Ideal as a solitary plant, it provides dense shade and pairs well with summer-flowering perennials.
Golden Dawn Redwood – Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’
The Golden Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’) features finely cut, golden spring foliage that turns soft green in summer and warm rusty orange in autumn. This deciduous conifer reaches up to 15 meters tall and prefers fresh to moist, slightly acidic soils. It thrives in full sun and is hardy to -23°C. Perfect as a solitary feature in a contemporary garden or near a water feature, it also complements bright groves with Japanese Maples, ferns, and Hostas.
At Seeds Wild, we offer a variety of seeds for these beautiful golden trees. Visit our blog for more gardening tips and explore our selection to brighten up your garden with stunning golden foliage!
