Plant Profile: Sophora Secundiflora (Texas Mountain Laurel)

Database of Endemic & Garden Plants of Pakistan

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khabbab
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Joined: April 9th, 2011, 10:35 pm
Country: Pakistan
City: Lahore
Gardening Interests: Climbers, fragrant plants, drought tolerant plants, container plants
Location: Lahore, Pakistan
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Plant Profile: Sophora Secundiflora (Texas Mountain Laurel)

Post by khabbab »

Botanical Name Sophora Secundiflora, Calia Secundiflora
Family Fabaceae
Genus Calia
Specie Secundiflora
Local Name in Urdu Shama
Common Name Texas Mountain Laurel
Life Cycle Perennial
Cultivar Name
Fragrant or Not Very fragrant
Category(Bush/Vine/Tree) Tree
Height 10-30 Feet
Spacing 8-12 Feet
Flowering Months Spring
Flower Color Blue -Purple
Growing Areas Native to warmer areas
Frost Tender No, It is frost hardy
Exposure Full sun, Part shade
Soil pH Alkaline (pH>7.2)
Propagation Seeds
Uses Medicinal Plant, Ornamental, Wild life
Other Details This is one of the most fragrant trees found in warm climates. The flowers are in form of Racemes and are highly beautiful. Fragrance is grape soda, grape bubble gum, grape soft drinks, etc. A pleasant but almost overpoweringly strong fragrance that can waft a considerable distance from the plant. This tree is slow growing and takes many years to reach maturity. Like most Fabaceae family seeds, it needs to propagate from seeds scarified first. This is very heat and drought tolerant tree and suitable for xeriscaping.

There is another species "tomentosa" being growing in lahore but that is not fragrant. First picture is taken from Lawrence gardens where many mature trees of sophora bloom in spring. A cultivar named "'Silver Peso'" has been developed with silvery leaves but not common.
Image
Lahore gardening blog
http://www.lahoregardening.com
mikhurram
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Joined: August 27th, 2012, 9:08 pm
Country: Pakistan
City: Lahore
Gardening Interests: Rose, Iris, Daylilies, Bulbs, Rhizomes, Perennial flowers & Fragrant plants.

Re: Plant Profile: Sophora Secundiflora (Texas Mountain Laur

Post by mikhurram »

This particular variety of Sophora is indeed very fragrant and bloom duration is around 3-4 weeks and blooms only once in an year and ought to be blooming in the month of March.
M Farooq
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Posts: 1756
Joined: July 3rd, 2011, 4:31 am
Country: Pakistan
City: Karachi
Gardening Interests: Fragrant Tropical Plants Ornamental Trees Vines

Re: Plant Profile: Sophora Secundiflora (Texas Mountain Laur

Post by M Farooq »

That is really beautiful tree! Never seen it before.
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