Necklace Pod (Sophora tomentosa)
Common Name Necklace Pod
Latin Name Sophora tomentosa
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
Native Yes
Zone 10-11
Height 4-15 feet
Spread 4-8 feet
Salt Water Tolerance High
Salt Wind Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Well drained soil
Sun Full Sun
Wildlife Attractant Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, warblers
Main Uses
The Necklace Pod is a unique looking large shrub. Many use it for accent plantings and specimen shrubs. Its salt tolerance is very high, making the Necklace Pod a perfect addition to your coastal garden, but feel free to plant it in hammock settings too, as it will flourish just as much.
Its gray/green leaves, yellow flowers, and cool seed pods add great texture and color to your landscape.
A native shrub, its drought tolerant, making it a very low maintenance plant once established.
Appearance
As mentioned above, the S. tomentosa is an exquisite ornamental/accent shrub due to its gray/green hued leafs. Its leaves are composed of little leaflets on a long stalk, almost resembling a fern. Its seed pods can reach lengths of up to 6 inches, looking very much like a pearl necklace.
When in bloom, its flowers are a beautiful yellow, borne on 6-15 inch-long spikes. The Necklace Pod can grow from 4 feet to 15 feet high.
Wildlife Attractant
This shrub is a wonderful food and cover source for wildlife, with its showy yellow flowers attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and warblers.
