David's mountain laurel, is a spiny, deciduous shrub in the Fabaceae (bean) family native to southwestern China and typically grows to 6 to 8 feet in length and width. The genus name Sophora is Arabic and the species name davidii is in reference to Jesuit missionary ean Pierre Armand David (1826-1900). It grows best in rich soil or well-drained sandy loam, with medium moisture, in full sun or partial shade. It also does well in clay soil, but it will not grow in the shade. In spring, it displays small, fragrant ,and showy blue and white blossoms that are more prolific if the plant is sited in full sun and protected from cold winds. The plant's foliage is also quite attractive. Once mature, the plant tolerates heat and some drought. Propagate the plant by scarifying the seeds. The thick dense canopy of leathery leaves and spiny branches makes it ideal for use as a hedge or security plant in the landscape. This low-maintenance shrub is noted for its ability to fix nitrogen within the plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : No serious insect or disease problems. Twig blight, verticillium wilt, canker, powdery mildew, and rust may occur. The seeds are poisonous.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Pinnate compound leaves to 4 inches long, each with 11 to 19 small elliptic blue-green leaflets (to 3/8 inches long), are attractive throughout the growing season.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Fragrant, pea-like, pale blue and white flowers in 6 inch terminal racemes (of 6 to 12 3/4 inch flowers each) bloom in May and June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit detail
Seed pods (1 to 4 seeds each) mature from green to brown
Stem detail
Multiple stems. Spiney when mature.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southwestern China
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Legume
Landscape Use
Design feature
Hedge; Security
Garden tags
#deciduous #drought tolerant #shrub #flowers late spring #flowers early summer #showy flowers #deciduous shrub #low maintenance #security plant #white flowers #poisonous #blue flowers #spines #fragrant flowers #hedge #blue leaves
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Spines/Thorns
Resistant to
Drought; Heat
Particularly resistant to
heat tolerant
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Seeds
Poison symptoms
The seeds of this plant, are mildly poisonous if eaten. The poisonous elements of this plant resemble nicotine in its actions and toxicity. If seeds are ingested, it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, excitement, delirium, and coma.