Practical
Plants

Sophora davidii

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Sophora genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Sophora
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
2.5 m
Spread
2.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains cytosine, which resembles nicotine and is similarly toxic[9].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowers[4][5]. No further details are given.

Plant part
Flowers

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China in W. Hubei, W. Sichuan and Yunnan.
Habitat
Dry rocky places and arid valleys, often covering large areas[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[7]. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water and sow in late winter in a greenhouse[10]. 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[3]. Air-layering[7].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a sunny position in most dry or moist well-drained soils[6]. Requires a good loamy soil[3]. Grows well on chalk[6]. 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[8]. Hardy to about -20°c but requires the extra warmth of a wall if it is to flower well[6]. However, a free-standing shrub at Kew is growing very well[6]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Plants should be container-grown and planted out whilst young, older plants do not transplant well[8]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7]. 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[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  9. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  10. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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