Native Plants
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.
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).
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: 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: YellowBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: FL , TXNative Distribution: S. TX, n. to Aransas Co.
Native Habitat: Coastal areas.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight 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, AccentUse Wildlife: Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-moths, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FACU | UPL | UPL* |
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. WasowskiBibref 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 PlantsFNA: Find Sophora tomentosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sophora tomentosa
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-21Research By: TWC Staff