Laburnum anagyroides
Common laburnum

Credit:

Common laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) is a leguminous shrub or small tree belonging to the Fabaceae family. Native to southern and Central Europe, it is valued both for its ornamental and ecological roles. The species produces striking pendulous yellow flowers in late spring, making it a popular decorative plant in parks, gardens, and open landscapes across Europe. 

Common laburnum is notable for its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, which enables it to thrive in nutrient-poor and calcareous soils, enhancing soil fertility and ecological resilience (Sajnaga and Jach, 2020). Beyond its ornamental use, the species has potential pharmaceutical applications due to the presence of bioactive alkaloids (Timofeeva et al., 2016). It has been widely introduced beyond its native range, with records showing its introduction to Poland in 1805, where it is now a common feature in urban and rural green spaces (Sajnaga and Jach, 2020). 

in situ genetic conservation unit+
ex situ genetic conservation unit+
Map elements


Download the distribution map
About map elements

To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"

Acknowledgements

This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)


Caudullo, Giovanni; Welk, Erik; San-Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2017). Chorological maps and data for the main European woody species. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2918528

 

The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:

Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
 

Genetic diversity and variation 

Research on the genetic diversity of common laburnum itself remains very limited. While studies in Europe, particularly in Poland, have focused on the genetic diversity of its symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, no comprehensive analyses have been conducted on the plant’s own populations or their genetic structure across its European range (Sajnaga and Jach, 2020). Consequently, current understanding of common laburnum’s genetic diversity and distribution is incomplete, highlighting the need for further research to assess population variability and inform conservation or breeding strategies. 

Gene flow 

Pollen is insect dispersed as grains are heavy and sticky. Seeds are dispersed by animals or gravity. These methods facilitate genetic dispersal over medium distances. 

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

NA 

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Threats 

Propagation from seed is often unsuccessful, which may restrict natural regeneration and reduce opportunities for maintaining genetic variability (Timofeeva et al., 2016). Additionally, deforestation and habitat degradation across parts of Europe have reduced suitable habitats for wild populations. Without sufficient genetic studies, potential issues such as genetic erosion, fragmentation, or inbreeding cannot be fully evaluated, highlighting an urgent need for further research on population-level genetic diversity. 

Management 

Given its nitrogen-fixing capacity and ability to thrive on nutrient-poor or degraded soils, common laburnum has significant potential for use in reforestation and soil restoration initiatives (Sajnaga and Jach, 2020). However, effective management strategies remain underdeveloped because research on its genetic diversity and adaptive variation is scarce. To conserve and utilize this species more sustainably, future work should focus on genetic characterization, development of improved propagation methods, and the establishment of genetic resource collections to support conservation, restoration, and ornamental use. 

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Further reading

NA 

References

Sajnaga, E. and Jach, M.E. 2020. Bradyrhizobia associated with Laburnum anagyroides, an exotic legume grown in Poland. Symbiosis, 80(3): 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-020-00668-x 

Timofeeva, S.N., Elkonin, L.A., Yudakova, O.I., and Tyrnov, V.S. 2016. Application of tissue culture for Laburnum anagyroides Medik. propagation. In: M. Anis and N. Ahmad, eds. Plant tissue culture: propagation, conservation and crop improvement, pp. 135–159. Singapore, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1917-3_8 

If you notice any error in the contents of this species page, please contact euforgen@efi.int