Sophora (Vexibia)
Sophora (Latin: Sophora) is a genus of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and small trees in the legume family. The genus includes 62 species native to South Asia, Southeastern Europe, South America, and Australia.
Some members of the genus are endangered. Three species are found in Russia: Sophora pachycarpa, Sophora flavescens, Sophora foxtail, and, less commonly, Sophora japonica. The first three species are considered noxious weeds that rapidly invade open spaces, displacing cultivated plants. Sophora japonica is distinguished by its enhanced ornamental qualities and is also valued for its medicinal properties.
Cultivation Characteristics
Sophora is a herbaceous plant, a deciduous shrub or tree up to 25 meters tall with a lush, spreading crown. Sophora leaves are rich green and fall in mid-November. The flowers are small, yellowish-white, bluish-purple, or pink, gathered in long paniculate or racemose inflorescences. Flowers appear once every two years, blooming in July-August. In winter, the plants are very attractive, despite the lack of foliage. The fruits are juicy and fleshy, collected in clusters. All parts of the plant are poisonous, but if properly harvested, stored, and used, they will not cause any harm to health.
*Foxtail pagoda tree (Latin: Sophora alopecuroides) is a perennial plant covered with soft, appressed hairs over its entire surface. The stem is erect, up to 12-20 cm tall. The leaves are ovoid. The flowers are white, gathered in dense racemes up to 15 cm long. Used in folk medicine, it is valued for the alkaloids found in the above-ground parts of the plant. Not only the leaves and stems, but also the roots and seeds possess medicinal properties.
*Sophora flavescens is a perennial herbaceous plant with erect stems up to 60 cm tall. The leaves are oval, green on the outside, glaucous and hairy on the inside. The flowers are pale yellow, gathered in dense racemes. The plants are rich in alkaloids, organic acids, flavonoids, and other organic acids. It has a number of medicinal properties.
*Thick-fruited Sophora (lat. Sophora pachycarpa) – the species is represented by perennial herbaceous plants with a powerful root system up to 60 cm high. The stems are highly branched. The flowers are cream-colored, collected in spike-shaped apical inflorescences. Sophora thick-fruited contains a large amount of useful substances, and is used to treat various diseases; its effect is similar to the two previous species.
*Japanese Sophora (lat. Sophora japonicum) – the species is represented by trees that bloom only 25-30 years after planting. The height of the trees varies from 10 to 25 m. It is characterized by increased drought-resistant properties. The trunk is covered with fissured dark gray bark. Young branches are greenish-gray, covered with short hairs. The flowers are collected in long paniculate inflorescences. This species is used in garden landscaping and folk medicine. In Russia, Sophora japonica blooms in July, the fruits ripen in October.
Subtleties of cultivation
Sophora prefers light, fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soils. The location is sunny or semi-shaded. Sowing is done in spring – April – May (depending on the climate zone). In the European part of Russia, sowing is carried out in February-March. Before sowing, the seeds are scarified: they are scalded with boiling water and then immersed in warm water for 24 hours. The swollen seeds are sown in open ground, into which compost and wood ash are first added. Planting depth is 1-2 cm.
Seeds germinate at a temperature of 20-25C. Crops are regularly moistened and freed from weeds. Irrigation is carried out using warm, settled water. The seedlings are periodically treated with phytostimulants, for example, Epin or Novosil. Fertilizing is not prohibited. Plants are transplanted to a new location next spring. The distance between plants in a row should be about 40-50 cm, between rows – 60-70 cm. Further care consists of systematic watering, fertilizing, weeding and sanitary pruning (this applies to shrubs and trees).
