Eve's Necklacepod Sophora affinis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Styphnolobium affine
- Description
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Texas Sophora is a large flowering shrub or small tree native to the south central U.S.A. The leaves are dark green and leathery and it has rose-pink showy flowers that form clusters resembling wisteria. The black fruit pods that appear mid-summer through fall resemble a string of beads, hence the common name Necklace Tree. Plant it in the full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil and use it as an understory tree.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Soils must drain well or leaves will become chlorotic.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sophora
- Species:
- affinis
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South central U.S.A.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Rounded
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Black segmented bean pods with hairs on the constricted parts.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Rosy pink fragrant blooms 1/2" long in clusters 6" long appearing early to mid-spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately divided leaves with 6 to 8 pairs of elliptical to oval leaflets with rounded, pointed or indented tips. The whole leaf is 9" long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Scaly, red-brown
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are smooth
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Understory Tree
