Tigger's Green Paw
Laburnum

Animal Safety: Dogs: No Cats: No Rabbits: No

Free Grazing: No Laburnum is poisonous to animals and humans
Lifespan: Around 50 years

About:
Laburnum originates from southern Europe.
It was introduced into the UK in 1560 into formal parks and gardens
They do not thrive well in very hot climates which shortens their lifespan. They prefer milder winters and moderate summers.

Laburnum can be identified by its yellow flowers that hang in bunches.
It is a member of the pea family. Its pods are black, twisted and extremely poisonous for humans and animals to eat.

There are three species of Laburnum tree in the United Kingdom, Common Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides), Scotch Laburnum (Laburnum alpinum) and the most popular variety today, Voss’s Laburnum (Laburnum x watereri).
Voss’s Laburnum is a hybrid between the common Laburnum and the Scotch Laburnum.
It produces the thickest and longest display of flowers but doesn’t produce as many of the poisonous seeds as the other two varieties.

  It can grow to the height of 23 feet tall but some maintained gardens train the laburnum to grow over an archway frame so that the bunches of bright yellow flowers hang within the arch.
Left to grow naturally the laburnum grows as a shrubby multi branched tree, however it is usually pruned to a single trunk.

Laburnum wood was historically used in cabinet making and was a great alternative to ebony or rosewood. It as also used to make musical instruments such as flutes, recorders and Highland bagpipes.