The tree is native to Europe but one of the few locations in the United States where golden chain tree grows abundantly is Bar Harbor, Maine. This is no coincidence, since Bar Harbor, which sticks out into the North Atlantic, is an area known for its cool summers. A famous landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand (1872 to 1959), understood that the climate in Bar Harbor would be perfect for golden chain trees. The word from the locals is that it was Farrand who introduced laburnum × watereri to those parts. Many residences and businesses still sport golden chain trees as specimen plants. These beauties are also commonly seen growing wild along a few stretches of road in the area.