Small-leaved Kowhai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small-leaved Kowhai |
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S. microphylla
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| Sophora microphylla |
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The kōwhai (pronounced KOH-fye), also known as Sophora microphylla, is a beautiful flowering tree or shrub. It grows naturally in New Zealand and is famous for its bright yellow, pea-like flowers. These flowers bloom in early spring, making the kōwhai a very popular plant in gardens across New Zealand.
Other common names for this plant include weeping kōwhai and small-leaved kōwhai. Sometimes it is called South Island Kowhai, but this name can be confusing. This is because the kōwhai is found all over New Zealand, including the North Island.
Contents
Discovering the Kōwhai Tree
What is Kōwhai?
The kōwhai is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Fabaceae family. This family is also known as the pea or bean family. It is a native plant to New Zealand, meaning it grows there naturally.
The kōwhai can grow up to 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall and wide. It is an evergreen plant, which means it keeps its leaves all year round. It can be a shrub or a small tree.
Kōwhai Leaves and Flowers
Each leaf of the kōwhai is about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. It has many pairs of small, shiny oval leaflets. There can be up to 40 pairs of these tiny leaves on one main leaf stem.
In early spring, the kōwhai produces many clusters of bright yellow flowers. These flowers look like small peas. The scientific name microphylla means "small-leaved." This is because Sophora microphylla has smaller leaves and flowers compared to another well-known kōwhai species, Sophora tetraptera. The leaves are usually 3–6 millimeters long and 2–5 millimeters wide. The flowers are 1.8–5.0 centimeters long.
How Kōwhai Grows
When a Sophora microphylla plant is young, it has a special way of growing. It has many branches that crisscross and interlace, making it look bushy. This is called a divaricate growth habit. As the tree gets older, this bushy look starts to disappear. The branches become more open.
Special Kōwhai Plants
One special type of kōwhai is called Sun King 'Hilsop'. This specific plant has won an important award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means it is an excellent plant for gardens.
Images for kids
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Foliage
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Flowers
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Seeds
See also
In Spanish: Sophora microphylla para niños
