Sophora Microphylla Bonsai

Sophora microphylla common name kōwhai is a species of flowering plant in the family fabaceae native to new zealand.

Sophora microphylla bonsai. Flowers profusely from september november. Each leaf is 10 cm 4 in long with up to 40 pairs of shiny oval leaflets. This tree is native as well in chile as in new zealand. If you would like to use material from this site please contact us first click on this footer to e mail bonsai for beginners.

It will always be found associated to water in the wild. Tangled juvenile stage leads to a stately adult tree. Nectar is very attractive to birds but can be toxic to honey bees. I asked a friend who grows bonsai about cuttings he said soft tip cuttings in the spring.

In early spring it produces many racemes of pea like yellow flowers. Kōwhai are small woody legume trees within the genus sophora that are native to new zealand. It starts blooming between the 4th and 5th year. Height to 3m 10ft spread 3m 10ft tall shrub bushy shrub.

Aug 13 2009 rating. The bright yellow flowers of new zealand natives sophora prostrata sophora microphylla and sophora tetraptera will attract bees and birds to your garden from march to june. Comments for sophora microphylla. Small leguminous tree with attractive fern like foliage.

Their natural habitat is beside streams and on the edges of forest in lowland or mountain open areas. Tetraptera being the most recognised as large trees. Microphylla is a spreading evergreen tree or large shrub with pinnate leaves composed of up to 40 pairs of small oblong leaflets and yellow hanging flowers in short sprays in spring. There are eight species with sophora microphylla and s.

Hardy average winter hardy through most of the uk apart from inland valleys at altitude and central northerly locations. Produces flowers in racemes to 5cm 2in long. Has been flowering for the last month. Growing to 8 m 26 ft tall and broad it is an evergreen shrub or small tree.

In its natural habitat it reaches up to 10 mt height a very fast growing tree reaching 1 m the first year and 2 or 3 m on the fifth. This kowhai is found naturally on limestone rocks in the takaka district north west south island. The flowers are 4 to 5cm long and are produced mainly during october. Microphylla refers to this varieties small leaves which makes this tree ideal for bonsai.

Petals of the 5cm 2in long flowers all point forwards. Sophora prostrata is the recognised species for bonsai so may be better for your friend. Outside of new zealand kōwhai tend to be restricted to mild temperate maritime climates.