Sophora

The genus Sophora includes about 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and perennial grasses, mostly characterized by slow growth. The leaves are arranged spirally, non-pinnate, branches sometimes with spines, and the flowers (each consisting of a" sail"," boat "and two" oars") in very lush inflorescences - panicles or racemes, white, yellow or purple, bloom in summer. The fruits are winged rosary-shaped beans. The most common type is the deciduous Japanese sophora (Sophora japonica) - a beautiful tree with a height of 12 m to 25 m, with a wide spherical crown, the trunk is often twisted, especially the branches of drooping varieties are sinuous. The bark is grayish-brown exfoliating. The leaves consist of 13 oval green leaflets, glossy on the upper side and slightly pubescent on the lower side. White-cream flowers (which occur only on adult plants) are fragrant and collected in large panicles. Ripe fruits are brown. Of the varieties, the decorative form 'Pendula' is widely distributed-a plant. It is large with twisted drooping branches that form a rounded crown (hence its name-pagoda tree). There is no flowering. The four-winged sophora (S. tetraptera) is an evergreen, less stable species, up to 3 m high. It consists of large shrubs or small trees. The leaves are complex, consisting of numerous small ovate or more elongated leaflets. The flowers are pale yellow, collected in large brushes, in their place fruits of a funny elongated shape are formed. The four-winged small-leaved sophora (S. tetraptera microphylla), some botanists consider it a separate species - the small-leaved sophora (Sophora microphylla). This is not a very stable evergreen subspecies up to 9 m high. It has thin twigs and unpaired compound leaves of numerous small ovate or oblong leaflets. The flowers are smaller than those of four-winged sophora, and the fruits are funny long winged beans. The four-winged prostrate sophora (S. tetraptera prostrata), or prostrate sophora (S. prostrata), is a small, round - crowned, root-spreading shrub with tangled stems. The leaves consist of only 6-8 pairs of leaflets, and the flowers are similar to the flowers of Sophora tetraptera.

The genus Sophora includes about 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and perennial grasses, mostly characterized by slow growth. The leaves are arranged spirally, non-pinnate, branches sometimes with spines, and the flowers (each consisting of a" sail"," boat "and two" oars") in very lush inflorescences - panicles or racemes, white, yellow or purple, bloom in summer. The fruits are winged rosary-shaped beans.

The most common type is the deciduous Japanese sophora (Sophora japonica) - a beautiful tree with a height of 12 m to 25 m, with a wide spherical crown, the trunk is often twisted, especially the branches of drooping varieties are sinuous. The bark is grayish-brown exfoliating. The leaves consist of 13 oval green leaflets, glossy on the upper side and slightly pubescent on the lower side. White-cream flowers (which occur only on adult plants) are fragrant and collected in large panicles. Ripe fruits are brown. Of the varieties, the decorative form 'Pendula' is widely distributed-a plant. It is large with twisted drooping branches that form a rounded crown (hence its name-pagoda tree). There is no flowering.

The four-winged sophora (S. tetraptera) is an evergreen, less stable species, up to 3 m high. It consists of large shrubs or small trees. The leaves are complex, consisting of numerous small ovate or more elongated leaflets. The flowers are pale yellow, collected in large brushes, in their place fruits of a funny elongated shape are formed.

The four-winged small-leaved sophora (S. tetraptera microphylla), some botanists consider it a separate species - the small-leaved sophora (Sophora microphylla). This is not a very stable evergreen subspecies up to 9 m high. It has thin twigs and unpaired compound leaves of numerous small ovate or oblong leaflets. The flowers are smaller than those of four-winged sophora, and the fruits are funny long winged beans.

The four-winged prostrate sophora (S. tetraptera prostrata), or prostrate sophora (S. prostrata), is a small, round - crowned, root-spreading shrub with tangled stems. The leaves consist of only 6-8 pairs of leaflets, and the flowers are similar to the flowers of Sophora tetraptera.

Cultivation

Sophora is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, planted in parks and gardens in single plantings. It is quite resistant to environmental pollution the culture is used for landscaping. Plant on a permanent planting site in the spring (in March-April); any type of soil is suitable, but well-drained is better. Resistant to lime. During planting, well-rotted manure is added to the ground at the rate of 5-7 kg per bush. The natural shape of sophora is extremely beautiful, so they absolutely do not need pruning. They are limited to removing dry, damaged, or disorderly items. branches. The plant is honey-bearing. All parts of it are poisonous.

Location

In the open sun, preferably in a place protected from the wind (especially in cold climates).

Temperature

Adult specimens of Japanese sophora are resistant to fluctuations in air temperature, and young ones should cover the base of the trunk in winter, mulching the ground around it with peat, dry leaves or other organic material. Other species should be planted in a place protected from the wind, and in winter mulch the trunk circle.

Watering

Sophora is a drought-resistant plant. Therefore, watering is required only during very hot periods and during prolonged droughts, primarily for young and newly planted plants.

Reproduction

The most commonly used method is sowing seeds in March-April in seed soil, in a closed, unheated room. Grown seedlings are transplanted into pots one at a time. Then they are sequentially transplanted into larger containers, and after 2-3 years they are finally planted. Varieties are propagated by grafting on a rootstock from seed.

Diseases

Oval-shaped growths appear on the branches, caused by the fungus Fusarium lateritium. With significant damage, they can completely cover the branches and cause the plant to die. Other problems may be caused by the Nectria cinnabarina fungus. In both cases, the damaged parts must be removed. Young plants die due to the fungus Pellicularia filamentosa. Its appearance can only be prevented by using sterilized soil or treatment with benzimidazole preparations, otherwise the plants are removed. Less dangerous is oidium, a whitish mold that covers the leaves, provoked by the powdery fungus alder dew (Micosphera alni). Chemical treatment is used.

Acquisition

Japanese sophora and other species are quite easy to find in specialized nurseries and gardening centers. Buy young plants of relatively small size, but already formed, they are easier to plant in the ground.