Sophora microphylla (small-leaved kowhai)

Japanese name: ソフォラ ミクロフィラ
Scientific name: Sophora microphylla

[Overview]
It is said to reach a height of 25 m in large specimens, but it is usually an evergreen shrub to small tree 2–8 m tall.
The crown is broad.
The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 10–15 cm long, and consist of up to 40 pairs of leaflets.
The leaflets are elliptic, about 1 cm long, hairless on both surfaces, and slightly glossy.
Umbel-like racemes 3–5 cm long bear about 10 yellow pea-type flowers that hang downward, with all the petals facing forward to form a tubular flower.
The inflorescence stalk, flower stalks and calyx have short brown hairs.
The fruit is a slender legume 5–20 cm long, constricted between the seeds, with 4 thin wings.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It can overwinter outdoors in regions without frost.
It prefers a sunny, well-ventilated site with well-drained soil.
It dislikes heat and humidity.
Strong direct sunlight in summer can scorch the leaves, so in summer move it to a well-ventilated place in partial shade and keep it cool.
From spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the surface of the potting medium has dried; in winter keep it on the dry side.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary, but depending on how it is growing, slow-release fertilizer may be placed on the soil from spring to autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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