Laburnum anagyroides plant contain cytisine and are poisonous if consumed. The wood is hard and heavy, of a yellow/brown colour, ideal for making posts, for woodturning and as fuel. In the past (and today on historic re-enactments) it was used for making bows. The tree is also known as "false ebony" since the wood from very old specimens could be used in place of ebony. "Laburnum anagyroides" is cultivated as an ornamental tree. The most common ornamental plant in the genus is a hybrid between this species and "Laburnum alpinum" — Laburnum × watereri. The English poet Francis Thompson described the "laburnum"
HMS Laburnum (1915) was taken into tow by "Laburnum" and the sloop after the destroyer had taken off most of "Farnborough"s crew. "Farnborough" was beached at Mill Cove. On 25 February 1917 "Laburnum" was patrolling to the west of the Blasket Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, when she was ordered to meet up with and escort the liner which was Liverpool-bound from the United States. Uncertainty about "Laconia"s location delayed the rendezvous between the ships, with the result that "Laconia" was torpedoed by the German submarine before "Laburnum" could arrive on the scene. While "Laburnum" could not prevent "Laconia" sinking, she