Necklace Pod: A Showy Flowering Plant
What is a Necklace Pod?
The necklace pod, also known as yellow necklace pod or Sophora tomentosa, is a beautiful flowering plant native to coastal areas of South Florida, South America, and the Caribbean. It’s a medium-sized shrub that grows 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. The plant’s most striking feature is its clusters of droopy, yellow blossoms that bloom in autumn and sporadically throughout the year. These flowers are located between the seeds, giving the plant a necklace-like appearance.
Necklace Pod Plant Information
The necklace pod plant is a versatile plant that can be used as a focal point, in borders, mass plantings, or butterfly gardens. It’s highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a great choice for wildlife gardens. The plant is also easy to grow and adapts well to warm climates, salty sea air, and sandy soil.
How to Grow Necklace Pod Plants
If you’re wondering where you can grow necklace pod plants, the answer is in warm climates with USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 11. These plants won’t tolerate temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
To grow necklace pod plants, improve the soil by digging in some organic matter such as compost or manure. Water the plants often enough to keep the soil slightly moist during the first 12 to 18 months. After that, the plant is highly drought tolerant and prefers dry soil. However, it appreciates an occasional watering during extended periods of hot, dry weather.
Necklace Pod Plant Care
The necklace pod plant is generally hardy, but it can be susceptible to mealybugs, which can cause powdery mildew. To prevent this, spray the plant with a mixture of half water and half rubbing alcohol as soon as the dew evaporates in early morning, before the heat of the day.
Toxicity
It’s important to note that necklace pod seeds are toxic when eaten. Keep the plant away from young children and pets.
Landscaping Uses
The necklace pod plant is a versatile plant that can be used in a variety of landscaping applications. Here are a few ideas:
- Focal point: Plant a single necklace pod shrub as a focal point in your garden.
- Borders: Use necklace pod shrubs to create a border along a walkway or driveway.
- Mass plantings: Plant several necklace pod shrubs together to create a mass planting. This is a great way to attract pollinators to your garden.
- Butterfly gardens: Necklace pod plants are highly attractive to butterflies, making them a great choice for butterfly gardens.
Additional Information
- The necklace pod plant is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae).
- The plant’s flowers are pollinated by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- The necklace pod plant is a nitrogen-fixing plant, which means it helps to improve the soil quality.
- The plant is also known as the necklace tree or the yellow necklace bush.
