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Necklace Pod Wikimedia Commons
Fabaceae

Necklace Pod

Sophora tomentosa

Continuity and connection.

Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Sophora
Native to
Pantropical, Florida, Caribbean
Bloom season
Year-Round
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
6-12 feet
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, sandy
Water
low
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The common name comes from its distinctive seed pods that are constricted between each seed, resembling a beaded necklace.
  • It is one of the few plants that can bloom virtually year-round in tropical and subtropical climates.
  • The seeds are extremely hard and durable, and have been used to make actual jewelry and necklaces.
  • Necklace pod is highly salt-tolerant and thrives in coastal dune environments where few other shrubs can grow.
  • The plant contains toxic alkaloids and was historically used by indigenous peoples as a fish poison.

Color meanings

0

connection

1

natural beauty

2

coastal life

Uses

  • coastal landscaping
  • ornamental
  • dune stabilization
  • jewelry