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Sophora godleyi
Also called Godley's Kowhai
Godley's kōwhai is a New Zealand native tree or shrub with a weeping habit, grey-green foliage and a heavy display of yellow flowers in late spring. It grows easily from seed and is grown in gardens as an ornamental tree.
Sophora godleyi, also known as Godley's kōwhai, papa kōwhai or Rangitikei kōwhai, grows naturally in the west of the North Island of New Zealand from Te Kūiti to Manawatū. It is one of eight recognised species of kōwhai and was described as a separate species in 2001, having formerly been considered to be part of species small-leaved kōwhai. It is named after Dr. Eric Godley, former head of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) Botany Division.
In horticulture it is possible to purchase 'regular' S. godleyi plants and it grows easily from seed. There are also at least two known cultivars, S. godleyi 'Goldies Mantle' and S. godleyi 'Ohingaiti'.
The cultivar 'Goldies Mantle' was selected by John Goldie, who worked in the Levin Horticultural Research Centre of the DSIR. It was sourced from a parent plant near Ohingaiti (near Taihape). The plant grows into an attractive grey-green tree, bearing an abundant display of yellow flowers in spring, and can grow 5 metres or more. It is sometimes sold under its former name Sophora microphylla 'Goldies Mantle'.
Sophora alopecuroides · Sophora cassioides · Coastal Kōwhai · Mamani · Sophora fernandeziana · Shrubby sophora · Brush Sophora · Waitakere Kowhai · Lord Howe Kowhai · Western necklacepod · Sophora longicarinata · Sophora macrocarpa
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Sophora godleyi by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
