Sophora tetraptera

Kowhai

Location

The Terrace

Description:

A small, woody deciduous tree native to New Zealand where their natural habitat is beside streams and on the edges of forest. The name kowhai comes from the Maori word for yellow and refers to the tubular yellow flowers which appear in early spring followed by distinctive pods.

Site and Care:

Grow in full sun or part shade in any well-drained soil. It is not reliably hardy in this country and here we grow it against a warm south wall. In the open it will form a small tree up to 4m (13’). Propagation is by seed or tip cuttings in spring and autumn. Young plants are quite frost tender, so cuttings or seedlings should be planted in their second year but they will take at least five years to flower.