Plant Details

Laburnum alpinum

Scottish laburnum, Alpine golden chain, Scotch laburnum

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Common names

21 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Alpine golden chain
  • Alpine Laburnum[1]
  • Scotch laburnum[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Scottish laburnum[1]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Alpen gouden regen
  • Alpengoudenregen[1]
French
  • Cytise des Alpes[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 苏格兰金链树[1]
Czech
  • štědřenec alpský[1]
Danish
  • Alpe-guldregn[1]
Estonian
  • alpi kuldvihm[1]
Finnish
  • kaljukultasade[1]
German
  • Alpen-Goldregen[1]
Italian
  • Maggiociondolo alpino[1]
  • Maggiociondolo di montagna[1]
Norwegian
  • alpegullregn[1]
Polish
  • złotokap alpejski[1]
Russian
  • Бобовник альпийский[1]
Slovak
  • štedrec alpský[1]
Slovenian
  • alpski nagnoj[1]
Swedish
  • alpgullregn[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Laburnum alpinum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Alpine Laburnum — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Cytise des Alpes — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Scottish Laburnum — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • štědřenec alpský — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • alpegullregn — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • kaljukultasade — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • alpgullregn — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Alpe-guldregn — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • alpi kuldvihm — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Scotch laburnum — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • alpski nagnoj — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Бобовник альпийский — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • 苏格兰金链树 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Maggiociondolo di montagna — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Maggiociondolo alpino — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Alpen-Goldregen — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • złotokap alpejski — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • Alpengoudenregen — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.
  • štedrec alpský — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 371837; Laburnum alpinum.

General information

Scientific name: Laburnum alpinum
Accepted name (Kew): Laburnum alpinum (Mill.) Bercht. & J.Presl View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Laburnum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Scottish laburnum, Alpine golden chain, Scotch laburnum
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 5.00 m
Spread: 6.00 m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-7
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial shade

Uses

Edible parts:
-
Edibility rating:
(0)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Insecticide, Nitrogen fixer, Fragrant, Wood

Description

Wood - hard. It is highly valued by woodturners and is used for making musical instruments.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad weeping
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 489126; name ID 2350835; Laburnum Fabr.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 61829; name ID 2350829; Laburnum alpinum (Mill.) Bercht. & J.Presl.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Laburnum alpinum

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 478725, ID 3RL8H: Laburnum alpinum (Mill.) Bercht. & J.Presl (accepted).

    Source checked on .