Mescal Bean Sophora secundiflora
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sah-FOR-uh seck-un-dih-FLOR-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Sophora secundiflora, or Mescal Bean, is a flowering, multi-trunked, evergreen tree or shrub that can reach heights of 32 feet, although its usual height at maturity is 10 to 15 feet. It is typically found along borders of streams, forming thickets or small groves in low rather moist limestone soils. It grows in well-drained, moist or occasionally dry, soils in full or partial sun. It will not grow in the shade. The plant is not grown in North Carolina; however, its seeds are imported for making necklaces.
Sophora secundiflora is drought-tolerant and prefers rocky limestone soil. Like many woody plants native to rocky soils, it is slow growing. The fragrance of its flowers is reminiscent of artificial grape products. The brilliant, lacquer red seeds contain the highly poisonous alkaloid cytisine (or sophorine), a substance related to nicotine and widely cited as a narcotic and hallucinogen. Although Mescal Bean is a common name for the plant, it bears no relation to the Agave species used to make the spirit mezcal.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems
No known insect or disease problems.
- 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:
- secundiflora
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico and Southwestern USA
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
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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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Woody pod with bright red, poisonous seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pea-like violet-blue flowers. The flowers, in 3 to 7 inch drooping clusters, are very showy and fragrant.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately divided with 7-9 leaflets, notched, silky below. The dense and glossy compound leaves are composed of 7 to 9 shiny, leathery leaflets that are rounded on the ends. The leaflets are up to 2 inches or more long, tapering more gradually to the base than to the tip, and arranged along an axis terminated by a single leaflet .
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- The seeds of this plant, which are often used in making necklaces, are mildly poisonous if eaten. The poisonous elements of this plant resemble nicotine in its actions and toxicity. If seeds are ingested, it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, excitement, delirium, and coma.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds
