How to Grow and Care for Necklacepods

Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) is a slow-growing multi-trunk shrub that can grow from 3 to 6 m tall. From winter to spring it produces drooping clusters of bluish-lavender flowers that produce a grape-soda-like fragrance. The fruit is a semi-woody pod filled with bright red poisonous seeds. Drought tolerant and prefers full sun to partial shade.

Native to New Zealand, kōwhai is an evergreen species of flowering shrub or small tree. The nectar of its flowers are toxic to honeybees. The long yellow blooms are unofficially considered to be the national flower of New Zealand.

Sophora tomentosa, also known as necklacepod, yellow necklacepod, and occasionally as silver bush, is a pantropical shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae. It commonly ranges in height from 1.2 to 3 m and often occurs in coastal conditions and near wetlands. The common name Necklacepod is derived from the characteristic string of seed pods that develop after its yellow flowers germinate into seeds. Necklacepod is a nectar plant for bees, butterflies, and in parts of the Americas hummingbirds as well. It is suggested for use by native plant enthusiasts in Florida as a good landscape plant for xeriscaping but it only naturally occurs in coastal counties in the central and southern part of the state, while closely related varieties occur in Texas, and the Caribbean. The variety of Necklacepod growing in Australia is considered an endangered species in some areas due to the clearing of coastal habitat and displacement by invasive species. In Sri Lanka, the plant is known as Moodu Murunga. The inedible pod has some similarities to the Murunga (Drumstick) pod. It has been used to make fish poisons, insect and spider repellents etc., esp in Africa.

A minimalist species, the Dwarf or prostrate kowhai is considered a delicate and unusual plant with tiny leaves and zigzag branches. Its name comes from the Maori language for the color yellow, which is also the color of the flowers.

Shrubby sophora is an evergreen shrub found in grassy lowlands, mountain slopes, and river valleys. It contains cytosine which is toxic if ingested. Ingesting any part of the plant, especially the roots, can cause moderate to severe illness, or even death.