Can anyone tell me what tree this is?

I have admired these trees for a couple of years. Connie and I tried to figure out what they were by googling and were unsuccessful. We finally decided that if anyone would know, it would be Josephine! But just in case, I'm willing to listen to all that may know. I love the pink "blooms" of this tree. Really not sure if they are blooms or more like a bouganvilla.

Sorry about the photo, but I finally remember to take it when hubby and I went down the road today. It was taken with my cellphone.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Janet

It's called a Goldenrain tree, the genus is Koelreuteria, but without a closer look at the leaves, flowers and seedpods, it would be difficult to ID the species. A few possibilities:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/28293/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koelreuteria_elegans
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/68698/

Betty, You nailed it!!! Thank you so much.

I find it neat that it wasn't until last night as I wrote the post that I even associated it with a bougainvilla as I tried to describe it's blooms. There it is Chinese Flame Tree, Bougainvillea Golden Rain Tree, Southern Goldenraintree.

I've only seen it in about 4 places here in SE Texas. They are huge and gorgeous and just take my breath away as I am driving down the road.

Thanks again for shedding some light on what this beauty is.

Janet

You're welcome, Janet. I've seen a number of very nice looking specimens around here too. What we are seeing are the seedpods. I completely missed seeing the flowers in bloom.

The trees that Connie and I saw in San Antonio had yellow on them, so those must have been the flowers. We just thought it was a similar tree but a different color. That was at the beginning of November.

It seems that each year, about this time, the pink comes out and I just drool when I drive by them.
Since those are the seed pods, I may just have to stop and ask if I can have some of the seeds. :-) Am I brave or what? HAHAHAHA

Hello Janet, well it looks like I missed this one. I am glad that Bettydee solved it for you because when I saw the picture I couldn't tell what it was, so I am glad you got your answer.
Josephine.

Josephine,

Thanks for replying. No matter what I'm looking at around here, I always think to myself, I bet Josephine would know what that is. :-) I cannot tell you how many times I've looked in the "colored" files and found what I was looking for and saw your name posted by it. It's been many!!!

I hope you all had a lovely holiday and wish you all the best of the season.

Janet

That is very sweet of you to say Janet, thank you very much.
I am so glad I have been able to make a contribution to the Texas forum and DG, and also to the awareness of Texas native plants, I feel very blessed.
Josephine.

We usually spend about a week on Mustang Island just over the causeway from Corpus Christi every November. I, too, have drooled over the trees and did not know what they were. Sometimes we have seen an entire neighborhood covered with them in bloom. Wonder if they would grow here.

Christi

Well, after reading all the comments about this lovely tree, I think I will pass. Already have enough invasives to fight.

Christi

Christi,
A neighbor down the road from me has one in her yard. Her property is surrounded by neglected pastures owned by an investor from Galveston. Yet I have not seen any Koelreuteria growing in those pastures. Every Koelreuteria tree I've seen around this area seems to be a single specimen. Maybe it takes a special set of circumstances for it to become invasive. They are gorgeous this time of year. I looked for more information on Koelreuteria and found that Koelreuteria paniculata September blooms in August-September extending both the flowering and colorful seedpods for Koelreuteria. This one, http://www.panglobalplants.com/plant_nav/plant_code.php?show=Koelreuteria+paniculata+'Coral+Sun'&picture=shrubs2665 has gorgeous color in spring as the new leaves emerge. Best of all for me, this tree is not toxic to cattle. I have to be careful about what I plant even though cattle are grazers not browsers, they will sample a few leaves here and there. The biggest concern is in the fall when leaves drop down onto the grass.

Thank you, Betty. I have bookmarked the link and will do some more research. They are just so beautiful. Can't really be more invasive than pecan and red oak unless it is hackberry. Not so many problems with weeds but the above tree seedlings drive me nuts. Probably wouldn't notice one more.

Christi

The ones I've seen have been single trees also. They just put such a beautiful splash of color wherever I see them. We have so few trees here locally that actually "color" in the fall (unless you are in the woods with all the tallows, etc.). Now the fun part will be figuring out where to put it in my own yard. We lost a few trees in the hurricane a few years ago, but that is too close to the house for my own peace of mind. I'll have to give this some thought before I go begging for some seeds. :-)

Thanks again Betty for providing us with excellent information on this fine tree.

Janet