Common Name: Kōwhai
Scientific Name: Sophora
Height at Maturity: 7 – 12m
Time to Maturity: 15-20 years, flowers in 3-5 years
Growth Rate: Medium
Habitat: Dry and moist conditions, it is a hardy tree.
Domesticated Uses: A great garden specimen. Visually attractive, low maintenance and great for bird life. Is a good timber for furniture and cabinet work.
Medicinal Uses: Historically, a solution obtained from boiling the bark or the leaves was used on cuts, wounds and infections. However, all parts of the Kōwhai plant should be considered poisonous if ingested.
Forest Uses: Kōwhai is NZ’s only deciduous legume and nodules on the roots fix nitrogen.
Flowering: August to November
Fruiting/Nectar: September to November
Birds Life: Tui and Kereru and bees
Planting Instructions: Kōwhai prefer to grow in full sun and need good drainage.
