Texas Mountain Laurel
Sophora secundiflora
Showy multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. Fragrant violet-blue flowers in terminal clusters for a wonderful display. Slow growing and easily trained as a nice espalier or patio tree. Evergreen.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | so-FOH-ra see-kun-di-FOH-li-a |
| Key feature: | Fragrant |
| Plant type: | Shrub |
| Garden styles: | Mediterranean, Tropical |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 8 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8 - 16, 18 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Slow growing to 10 to 15 ft. tall and 8 to 10 ft. wide; slightly taller with age. |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Flower attributes: | Fragrant, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Birds, Attracts Hummingbirds, Easy Care, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, North American Native Selection, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Espalier, Windbreak |
| Flower color: | Blue |
| Blooms: | Spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 7100 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Prune annually to maintain desired size and form. Pruning time: winter.
Design Ideas
A lovely small tree, sometimes multi-trunked, that can be used in the sunny patio or at a front entryway where its fragrant spring blossoms can be used to full effect.
Companion Plants
Use the more substantial leaves and pink flowers of Roseus Flowering Maple (Abutilon x hybridum 'Roseus') as a good contrast to the finely textured foliage of the mountain laurel. Lower-growing companions include Brown-Eyed Rock Rose (Cistus ladanifer maculatus), which has white flowers with a dark spot in the middle, and the contrasting form of Harbour Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica 'Harbour Dwarf').
History
This plant is native to a large range of the desert southwest including Texas, New Mexico and Old Mexico. Its genus was named from the Arabic for pea-shaped flowers. Slow growth means plants are more expensive.
Lore
This tree was known in its region as the mescal bean or frijolito, although the bean like seeds were never eaten by Native Americans who preferred to use them as decorative beads.
Showy multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. Fragrant violet-blue flowers in terminal clusters for a wonderful display. Slow growing and easily trained as a nice espalier or patio tree. Evergreen.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Prune annually to maintain desired size and form. Pruning time: winter.
Design Ideas
A lovely small tree, sometimes multi-trunked, that can be used in the sunny patio or at a front entryway where its fragrant spring blossoms can be used to full effect.
Companion Plants
Use the more substantial leaves and pink flowers of Roseus Flowering Maple (Abutilon x hybridum 'Roseus') as a good contrast to the finely textured foliage of the mountain laurel. Lower-growing companions include Brown-Eyed Rock Rose (Cistus ladanifer maculatus), which has white flowers with a dark spot in the middle, and the contrasting form of Harbour Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica 'Harbour Dwarf').
History
This plant is native to a large range of the desert southwest including Texas, New Mexico and Old Mexico. Its genus was named from the Arabic for pea-shaped flowers. Slow growth means plants are more expensive.
Lore
This tree was known in its region as the mescal bean or frijolito, although the bean like seeds were never eaten by Native Americans who preferred to use them as decorative beads.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | so-FOH-ra see-kun-di-FOH-li-a |
| Key feature: | Fragrant |
| Plant type: | Shrub |
| Garden styles: | Mediterranean, Tropical |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 8 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8 - 16, 18 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Slow growing to 10 to 15 ft. tall and 8 to 10 ft. wide; slightly taller with age. |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Flower attributes: | Fragrant, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Birds, Attracts Hummingbirds, Easy Care, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, North American Native Selection, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Espalier, Windbreak |
| Flower color: | Blue |
| Blooms: | Spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 7100 |
