PlantFiles: Kowhai
Sophora longicarinata

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Family: Papilionaceae (pa-pil-ee-uh-NAY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Sophora (SOF-or-uh) (Info)
Species: longicarinata

Synonym:Sophora microphylla var. longicarinata

Category:
Trees

Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)

Spacing:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade

Danger:
Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Color:
Pale Yellow

Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Mid Spring

Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Deciduous

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds

Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

Patent Information:
Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods:
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
Scarify seed before sowing

Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds

Click thumbnail
to view:
By bootandall

By bootandall

Profile:

1 positive
No neutrals
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

Rating	Author	Comment
Positive	albey30	On Jan 3, 2009, albey30 from Christchurch New Zealand (Zone 9a) wrote: Hi there Just a note on the cold hardiness of this tree as i would very much doubt that it can handle ( -12 degrees centigrade ) We in New Zealand rate it somewhere between : ( -6 to -7 degrees centigrade or USDA Zone 9a ) and i have made a note below regarding official name for this tree as being Sophora longicarinata. Abstract : Sophora longicarinata is reinstated at species rank, having recently been placed as a variety of S. microphylla. Sophora longicarinata is recognised by a suite of characters, including its lack of a juvenile growth phase, its shrubby, slender growth habit, sometimes producing several main stems from below ground level, and often suckering, its small, dark green, and numerous leaflets, and often twisted pedicels and flowers that are inverted in bud. Sophora longicarinata is restricted to marble and other limestone areas in northern Nelson and western Marlborough, is sparsely distributed, has few plants at each locality, and is considered to be a local endemic. The tree can grow to 5m or 16-feet Hope this helps, Rod.

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