Laburnocytisus Adamii - Adams Laburnum

Laburnocytisus Adamii or as it is more commonly known, Adam’s Laburnum, is a truly unique cultivar. This plant is a graft-chimaera, created by combining common Laburnum and Cytisus Purpureus (Purple Broom). The result is an ornamental deciduous tree with three sets of distinct features, one from each of the parent plants, and one that is a mixture of both.

During the blooming season, Adam’s Laburnum is at its best. In late spring through to summer, this splendid tree displays long, pendulous racemes in two different colours. Some of the blossoms are bright yellow, some are purple, and, in some specimens, intermediate pink-yellow flowers are also present. The contrasting colour of the abundant blossoms that appear on the same branches draws even more attention to an already striking tree. The foliage of Laburnocytisus Adamii bears characteristics of the both parent plants as well. The most of the foliage consists of trifoliate leaves (Laburnum) with dense clusters of brush-like foliage (Purple Broom). In the autumn, foliage turns to yellow shades.

Although its stunning features would suggest otherwise, Adam’s Laburnum is quite undemanding. This highly-decorative tree will thrive in any moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. To encourage profuse flowering, grow this cultivar in full sun. Its bushy, rounded habit requires minimal maintenance to stay in perfect shape. No routine pruning is required, but this Laburnum cross will appreciate regular removal of dead and damaged branches. Remove suckers to prevent the plant from spreading. A European Native, Adam’s Laburnum is fully hardy in the United Kingdom and will survive even if the temperatures drop to 15 degrees below zero. If left unpruned, this slow-growing tree can achieve a maximum height of 7 metres and 4 metres in width.

Created in 1824, in a Parisian nursery, Laburnocytisus Adamii is still considered to be a horticultural rarity. This eye-catching tree is bound to steal the spotlight wherever you plant it, which is why it is an ideal candidate for a focus of interest in a garden. Due to its slow growth rate and fairly compact size even in maturity, this unusual tree is an excellent choice for gardens with limited space. For more unique trees, take a look at our selection of Japanese Cloud Trees as well as our specimen Japanese Maple Trees. You might also be interested in other flowering trees such as Prunus Kiku Shidare Zakura, Clerodendrum Trichotomum Purple Blaze or climbers Wisteria Floribunda Violacea Plena.