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'''''S. molloyi''''' or '''Cook Strait Kowhai''' is a medium sized shrub natively found only on islands in and around Cook Strait, New Zealand. It commonly grows in inhospitable, dry, exposed places. Today there is many different cultivars of it available throughout New Zealand. ==Cultivation== ''S. molloyi'' is best planted in a sunny or semi shaded position with moist, free draining soil. ===Propagation=== The seeds need to be treated specially to make them grow. In nature the hard outer shell of the Kowhai seed erodes away as it tumbles down streams, so the shell needs to be damaged somehow to allow water to soak into it. To allow this, one can take small nicks out of the shell using a pair of nail clippers or some similar instrument. After the chitting, the seed needs to be placed in a container of water to soak for a night.<br> The seeds are best planted in a coarse mix to allow for good drainage, this prevents rotting or fungal infections.<br> The germination period is 14-21 days. ''S. molloyi'' can be grown from [[cutting|cuttings]] during autumn and early winter. They will take about 60-100 days to root and can be planted out in spring. ===Pests and diseases=== The Kowhai caterpillar is a bright-green and black caterpillar that strips the leaves of the kowhai. The treatment for such a problem is the use of an insecticide such as [[Orthene]] (NZ), [[Mavrik]] (NZ), [[Shield]] (NZ) or [[Super Shield]] (NZ).<ref>Yate's 'Garden Problem Solver', HarperCollins, New Zealand, 2001</ref> ==Cultivars== *''[[Sophora molloyi 'Dragon's Gold'|S. molloyi 'Dragon's Gold']]'' *''[[Sophora molloyi 'Chevalica'|S. molloyi 'Chevalica']]'' ==Gallery== <gallery perrow=5> Image:Upload.png| photo 1 Image:Upload.png| photo 2 Image:Upload.png| photo 3 </gallery> ==References== <references/> *[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963 <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> <!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 --> ==External links== *{{wplink}} {{stub}} __NOTOC__
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