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Summary

Bloom Color: Blue, Lavender, White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Rounded, Upright or erect.

Physical Characteristics

Sophora davidii is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft) by 2.5 m (8ft) at a slow rate. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. viciifolia. Hance. non Salisb.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses:

Flowers[177, 183]. No further details are given.

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Succeeds in a sunny position in most dry or moist well-drained soils[184]. Requires a good loamy soil[11]. Grows well on chalk[184]. It grows best in the warmer areas of the country where the wood will be more readily ripened and better able to withstand winter cold[219]. Hardy to about -20°c but requires the extra warmth of a wall if it is to flower well[184]. However, a free-standing shrub at Kew is growing very well[184]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Plants should be container-grown and planted out whilst young, older plants do not transplant well[219]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. Special Features: Not North American native, Fragrant flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[200]. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water and sow in late winter in a greenhouse[78]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots in the greenhouse, and grow them on for 2 years under protected conditions. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of their third year. Cuttings of young shoots with a heel, July/August in a frame[11]. Air-layering[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Acacia sophorae	Coastal Wattle, Acacia	Shrub	0.0	0-0		LMH	N	DM	2	0	3
Sophora flavescens	Ku Shen, Shrubby sophora	Shrub	1.5	5-9	S	LMH	N	M	0	3	2
Sophora japonica	Japanese Pagoda Tree, Scholar Tree	Tree	20.0	4-9	F	LMH	N	M	2	3	2
Sophora mollis		Shrub	2.0	7-10		LMH	N	DM	1	0	2
Sophora moorcroftiana		Shrub	1.2	-		LMH	N	M	0	1	1
Sophora secundiflora	Mescal Bean, Texas Mountain Laurel	Tree	10.0	7-10	S	LMH	N	DM	0	1	3
Sophora sericea	Silky Sophora	Perennial	0.3	-		LMH	N	DM	3	0
Sophora tetraptera	Kowhai	Tree	10.0	7-10	S	LMH	N	M	0	0	2
Sophora tonkinensis		Shrub	1.0	-		LMH	SN	M	0	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Sophora davidii - (Franch.)Skeels.