Sophora microphylla Dragon's Gold

Sophora microphylla 'Dragon's Gold' is a slow-growing, small bush, notable for its beautiful evergreen foliage composed of small, silvery green leaflets and its radiant, bright golden yellow spring flowers. This sophora is a bit sensitive to cold and can only be grown in open ground in regions without severe frosts. Elsewhere, it can be planted in a large pot to overwinter like oleander.

Sophora microphylla 'Dragon's Gold' is sometimes marketed under the names of Sophora prostrata 'Dragon's Gold' or Sophora molloyi 'Dragon's Gold'. This cultivar was selected in the 1950s in New Zealand by Terry Hatch from Joy Plants. It is a slow-growing bush that generally reaches 2 m in all directions after 15 years when planted in open ground. Specimens grown in pots do not exceed 1.50 m. Its habit is spreading to rounded, supported by rather sparse branching. The young branches are yellowish and spread at an obtuse angle. They often lose this characteristic in adult specimens. The foliage is decorative, it persists in winter until -5 °C. It is composed of 20 to 40 pairs of fine small pinnate (divided into leaflets), dark green leaves. They measure from 7 to 15 cm long and are a bright green. The young shoots are covered with a silky down that gives them a silvery reflection. Flowering takes place between March and May depending on the climate. Small clusters of pendulous bell-shaped, 3 cm long flowers, emerge from the axils of the leaves. All the petals are pointed forward. The fruit of Sophora microphylla is a brown pod resembling a rosary with about ten seeds.

Sophora 'Dragon's Gold' is drought-resistant, but it hates cold and dry winds as well as severe frosts. It is best to grow it in a container in a temperate zone, where it will create an original subject on the terrace or balcony, with an exotic charm. It is a tree for small urban gardens or dry gardens. It can be planted alongside the Amorpha canescens and the Corbières rockrose, surrounded by blue lavenders like 'Hidcote' and surrounded by Nepeta mussinii, for example.