Sorbus domestica
True Service tree Ht 10-15m
S. Europe. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Fairly dense crown. Clusters of white flowers in spring followed by 2.5cm green fruits like small apples or pears. The very sour fruit used in Europe to make a beer. Highly figured timber for furniture. Rare.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Edible fruits and seeds
Sorbus devoniensis
Devon form - Sorbus aria Ht 8-12m
Localised in Devon, UK. Broadly columnar deciduous. Dark green leaves - grey beneath. White flowers,bunches of orange, turning brown speckled fruits in late summer. Does well in South Island soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
Sorbus aucuparia
Rowan Ht 5-15m
European mountain ash. Broadly conical deciduous. Leaves pinnate turning orange in colder areas. White flowers in clusters then red berries. Suited to colder areas. Berries rich in vitamin C for jelly and herbal remedies.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Edible fruits and seeds
Sophora tetraptera (POT grown)
Kowhai - North Island Ht 5-12m
Native to Eastern North Island. Broadly conical, evergreen. No divaricating juvenile stage. The yellow flowers are larger with nectar for birds. The wood is very hard and durable.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Small Tree
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Container Grown
Sophora prostrata (POT grown)
Kowhai - South Island mountain Ht 1-2m
Height dependant on exposure. A dense, rounded divaricating shrub with single orange flowers and small pinnate leaves. Survives on dry inhospitable sites. Useful for bonsai.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Shrub
- Evergreen
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Container Grown
Sophora molloyi 'Dragon's Gold' (POT grown)
Kowhai - Winter flowering Ht 1.5m
Stephens Island. Cook Strait. Dense sprawling evergreen shrub in the wild. Can be trained as a standard with a
bushy top. Tui & bellbirds seek nectar in mid-winter from the yellow flowers. Tolerates cold, drought & coastal gales.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Shrub
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Container Grown
Sophora molloyi (POT grown)
Kowhai - Cook Strait Ht 1-3m
Bushy sprawling evergreen with dark green leaves and yellow flowers scattered through the canopy. Tolerates extreme exposure on dry rock coastal cliffs. Stephens Is. is a typical habitat. Suitable for the small garden.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Shrub
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Container Grown
Sophora microphylla (POT grown)
Kowhai - South Island Ht 5-15m
Broadly columnar, evergreen but deciduous in very cold areas. Divaricating juvenile stage. Yellow flowers in Spring, attracts Tui & Bellbirds. Pigeons feed on the new leaves. Cold climate seed source.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Small Tree
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Container Grown
Sophora longicarinata (POT grown)
Kowhai - Golden Bay Ht 4-5m
NW part of South Island, NZ. Broadly columnar, evergreen. An erect multi-stemmed round headed tree with many more pairs of leaflets in the pinnate leaf. The flowers are lemon yellow - a spectacular sight in spring. Enjoys lime.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Small Tree
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Container Grown
Sophora howinsula (POT grown)
Lord Howe Is. kowhai (syn.'Gnome') Ht 3-4m
Evergreen, with upright vase shaped slightly arching branches. Larger leaves and much larger flowers. Hardy, slower than most kowhai. Suitable for a small garden. Known by the name 'Gnome'.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Shrub
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Container Grown
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