Plant Profile: Sophora affinis

Taxonomy: Sophora affinis

Names

Eve's Necklace, Eve's Necklacepod, Necklace Tree, Texas Sophora

  • Photo of Sophora affinis (Sophora affiniss)

Phonetic Spelling:

Genus:Sophora

Species:affinis

Family:Fabaceae

Texas Sophora is a sizable flowering shrub or a small tree indigenous to the south-central region of the United States. It features dark green, leathery leaves and boasts striking rose-pink flowers that bloom in clusters, reminiscent of wisteria. The black fruit pods that emerge from mid-summer to fall resemble a string of beads, which is why it is commonly referred to as the Necklace Tree. For optimal growth, it should be planted in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for an understory tree.

Regarding pests, diseases, and other plant issues, it is crucial that the soil drains effectively; otherwise, the leaves may turn chlorotic.

Sophora affinis Feature Summary

Sophora affinis Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#deciduous
#small tree
#fragrant flowers
#pink flowers
#understory tree
#flowering tree
#large shrub
#early spring flowers
#deciduous tree
#mid-spring flowers

Similar Plants

Sophora affinis is often confused with:

Sophora affinis Feature Summary

Fruit
Black segmented bean pods with hairs on the constricted parts.
Flowers
Rosy pink fragrant blooms 1/2" long in clusters 6" long appearing early to mid-spring.
< 1 inch
Leaves
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.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Elliptical
Ovate
> 6 inches
Leathery
Bark
Scaly, red-brown
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Stem
Stems are smooth
Smooth (glabrous)
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
24-60 feet
12-24 feet
Coastal
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Flowering Tree
Small Tree
Understory Tree

Sophora affinis Attributes

Sophora affinis: Country Or Region Of Origin

South central U.S.A.

Sophora affinis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Sophora affinis: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Sophora affinis Fruit

Sophora affinis: Fruit Description

Black segmented bean pods with hairs on the constricted parts.

Sophora affinis: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Sophora affinis: Fruit Color

grass
Black

Sophora affinis Flowers

Sophora affinis: Flower Description

Rosy pink fragrant blooms 1/2" long in clusters 6" long appearing early to mid-spring.

Sophora affinis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink

Sophora affinis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Sophora affinis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Sophora affinis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Sophora affinis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Sophora affinis Leaves

Sophora affinis: 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.

Sophora affinis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Sophora affinis: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Sophora affinis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Sophora affinis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Sophora affinis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Sophora affinis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Sophora affinis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Sophora affinis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Sophora affinis: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Sophora affinis Bark

Sophora affinis: Bark Description

Scaly, red-brown

Sophora affinis: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown
grass
Red/Burgundy

Sophora affinis Stem

Sophora affinis: Stem Description

Stems are smooth

Sophora affinis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Sophora affinis: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Sophora affinis Whole Plant Traits

Sophora affinis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Sophora affinis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Sophora affinis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Sophora affinis Cultural Conditions

Sophora affinis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Sophora affinis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Sophora affinis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Sophora affinis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Sophora affinis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Sophora affinis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Sophora affinis Landscape

Sophora affinis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Sophora affinis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland