+Laburnocytisus adamii

+ Laburnocytisus adamii, also called Adam's laburnum, is a surprising small deciduous tree that spontaneously appeared in the nursery of Jean Louis Adam in Vitry-sur-Seine in the 1820s. It is a hybid that carries the characteristics of the yellow flowers of laburnum and those of a pink-flowered broom and even intermediate characteristics between the two, all on the same plant. The result is beautifully embodied in a tall bush with a gracious, slender and semi-pendulous habit, which in spring, depending on the branches, is adorned with pendulous clusters of mauve-pink, copper-pink and pale yellow.

Laburnocytisus adamii is actually a hybrid,  resulting from a graft that took place between two species: Laburnum anagyroides (the Golden Chain laburnum), and a broom called Chamaecytisus purpureus.  Here, the laburnum forms the core of the graft, surrounded by the broom. This small tree, like its two 'parents', belongs to the Fabaceae family. Perfectly hardy, it thrives in not too rich, damp but well-drained soils, with a preference to limestone and full sun. With slow growth, this botanical curiosity develops a trunk topped by an ascending and slender crown, airy and open, supported by flexible and slightly weeping branches. At maturity, the plant will reach about 5 m in height and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) in width. It loses its leaves in winter.

The bark of the young branches is green, becoming browner and slightly rough with age. Most branches carry light green leaves with 3 leaflets, 3 to 6 cm (1.2 to 2.4 in) long, resembling those of the labrunum. Others are like those of the broom, denser leaves with 3 much smaller leaflets and a darker green. This large shrub flowers in May-June depending on the climate. Some branches carry long pendulous clusters of yellow flowers measuring 20 to 30 cm (7.9 to 11.8 in) long, while others produce shorter and more compact clusters filled with light purple broom flowers. However, most branches, carry abundant clusters of pretty copper pink flowers, of 8 to 15 cm (3.1 to 5.9 in) long.  As it matures, Laburnocytisus adamii increasingly resembles the laburnum, which seems to dominate over the broom.

Give Laburnocytisus a sunny and prominent location in a lawn, to amaze your visitors. To create a fantastic display,  plant around the base of the shrub with ornamental garlic, whose stiff stems are crowned with large pompoms, or blue and white agapanthus for example. You can also position it not far from a wisteria tree, a dwarf 'Dot' Japanese Sophora or Sophora davidii with clusters of blue flowers. 

Caution all parts are toxic, especially the seeds.