Sophora molloyi Heenan & de Lange

Scientific Nomenclature

Cook Strait kōwhai, scientifically Sophora molloyi Heenan & de Lange, grows as a small compact bush that can become quite wide, but only reaches roughly head height.

Flowering Period

It is an early-flowering species that typically blooms between April and October.

Flower Characteristics

Its flowers are yellow and measure around 3 cm long.

Foliage and Juvenile Growth

Unlike other kōwhai, S. molloyi keeps its leaves year-round, and plants grown from seed do not go through a divaricating juvenile stage.

Horticultural Cultivars

In horticulture, two varieties of this species are sold: 'Dragons Gold' (also written as 'Dragon's Gold') and 'Early Gold', both of which are popular garden plants.

'Dragons Gold' Origin

The 'Dragons Gold' cultivar was selected by Terry Hatch of Joy Plants from material collected on Stephens Island in the 1950s.

'Dragons Gold' Size

While the original source plant for this cultivar eventually grew to 6 metres tall, a height of 2 metres is more typical for the cultivar in its first 10 years of growth.

'Dragons Gold' Landscape Use

It works very well for covering difficult banks and areas with poor soil, and produces clusters of bright yellow flowers.

'Dragons Gold' Name Origin

The cultivar's name commemorates Stephens Island's large tuatara population, which led the island to be likened to an 'isle of dragons'.

'Early Gold' Origin

The 'Early Gold' cultivar is an earlier selection developed by the late John Goldie, and it was also grown from seedlings sourced from Stephens Island.

'Early Gold' Flower Characteristics

It is similar to 'Dragons Gold', but has paler, lemony yellow flowers.

'Early Gold' Plant Variety Rights

This cultivar was covered by Plant Variety Rights for a period, but those rights have now expired.

Container Plant Suitability

Due to its small size, year-round leaf retention, and winter flowering season when few other plants bloom, Sophora molloyi is a good container plant.