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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Sophora tomentosa (Yellow necklacepod)
Watson, Sean

Sophora tomentosa

Sophora tomentosa L.

Yellow Necklacepod, Yellow Sophora, Necklace Pod, Tambalisa

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SOTO3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

Yellow necklacepod or yellow sophora is an evergreen shrub with a delicate, multi-stemmed shape and chartreuse branches. Silvery-green foliage provides a backdrop for the 4-16 inch spikes of yellow flowers. Seedpods hang on the shrub for a year or more. This plant grows 3-6 feet in height.

A native of southern Florida and South Texas, where it is infrequent along and near the coast as far north as Aransas county. Its overall natural range comprises just about every tropical and subtropical coast in the world. This shrub is hardy to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit (often freezes back at our latitude behaving as a subshrub).

 

From the Image Gallery

16 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Flower: Flowers in 4 inch spikes

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: FL , TX
Native Distribution: S. TX, n. to Aransas Co.
Native Habitat: Coastal areas.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sandy soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Saline tolerant
Conditions Comments: Usually freezes to the ground each winter.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy, Blooms ornamental, Accent tree or shrub, Long-blooming, Accent
Use Wildlife: Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-moths, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FAC FACU UPL UPL*
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Naval Air Station Kingsville - Kingsville, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sophora tomentosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sophora tomentosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sophora tomentosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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