Sophora — 11 species

Botanical species in the genus Sophora recorded in the PlantPeers database.

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Sophora cassioides

Sophora cassioides

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Sophora cassioides is not a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -8°c when fully dormant. It grows best in areas with hot summers. In areas with cooler summers (even if the winters are mild), such as the maritime regions of the temperate zone, it often grows poorly, failing to properly ripen its wood and suffering frost damage over the winter.

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Deciduous TreeView Details
Sophora chrysophylla

Sophora chrysophylla

Sophora chrysophylla

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

A plant of the tropics, it is found growing at elevations from near sea level to more than 3,000 metres. Requires a sunny position. The tree is exceedingly deep rooted509.

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Deciduous TreeView Details
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EdibleMedicinal

Sophora davidii

Sophora davidii

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Sophora davidii is a moderately cold-hardy plnat, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c when fully dormant. It requires hot summers if it is to thrive - in areas with cooler summers it requires the extra warmth of a sunny wall if it is to flower well. Succeeds in a sunny position in most dry or moist well-drained soils.

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Deciduous ShrubView Details
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EdibleMedicinal

Sophora flavescens

Sophora flavescens

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Although Sophora flavescens is hardy to at least -15°c, it requires hot summers to fully ripen its wood and so does not do very well in the relatively cool summers of maritime regions, where it gradually weakens and eventually succumbs. In such regions it will often succeed if it is treated like a herbaceous perennial, growing afresh from the base each spring. Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun.

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Evergreen ShrubView Details
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Medicinal

Sophora microphylla

Sophora microphylla

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

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.

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Edible

Sophora mollis

Sophora mollis

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Sophora mollis is not very cold hardy, tolerating short-lived temperatures down to around -8°c according to one report, and down to -15°c according to another Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile dry soil in full sun. Requires a hot dry position, succeeding outdoors only in the warmer areas of the country where its wood will be better ripened and more able to withstand winter cold. Hardy to about -15°c.

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Deciduous ShrubView Details
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Medicinal

Sophora moorcroftiana

Sophora moorcroftiana

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Sophora moorcroftiana is a moderately cold-hardy plnat, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c when fully dormant. It requires hot summers if it is to thrive, in areas with cooler summers it requires the extra warmth of a sunny wall if it is to flower well. Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun.

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Evergreen ShrubView Details
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Edible

Sophora nuttalliana

Sophora nuttalliana

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Sophora nuttalliana is very cold tolerant, but requires hot summers if it is to thrive. Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun. 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.

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PerennialView Details
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Medicinal

Sophora tetraptera

Sophora tetraptera

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Sophora tetraptera is not very cold hardy, tolerating short periods with temperatures down to about -10°c when it is fully dormant, Mature plants, with a woody framework, are considerably hardier than young plants, which can often be killed even in fairly mild winters. Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun. Requires a warm sheltered position.

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Evergreen TreeView Details
Sophora tomentosa
Medicinal

Sophora tomentosa

Sophora tomentosa

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Prefers a sunny position, but can tolerate some shade. Succeeds in a dry to moist soil, so long as it is well-drained. Prefers a sandy soil.

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Evergreen TreeView Details
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Medicinal

Sophora tonkinensis

Sophora tonkinensis

Family: Fabaceae

Cultivation

Sophora tonkinensis is native to the warm temperate and subtropical zones of southern China and is not likely to be very tolerant of frost. Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun. 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.

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