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|Min wd metric=m+Describe plant here...+
+{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->+{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->+
+{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
−
+
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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
+|familia=Fabaceae
|genus=Sophora
|genus=Sophora
|species=tetraptera
|species=tetraptera
−|common_name=Kowhai
+|common_name=Kowhai, Yellow kowhai
+|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=tree
|habit=tree
−|Min ht box=6
+|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
+|Min ht box=4.5
|Min ht metric=m
|Min ht metric=m
|Max ht box=12
|Max ht box=12
|Max ht metric=m
|Max ht metric=m
−|Min wd box=4
+|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
−|Max wd box=4.5
−|Max wd box=10
|Max wd metric=m
|Max wd metric=m
−|origin=New Zealand
+|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
+|origin=New Zealand and parts of Chile
|poisonous=All parts
|poisonous=All parts
+|lifespan=perennial
+|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=sun, part-sun
|exposure=sun, part-sun
−|water=moist, moderate
+|water=moist
−|features=evergreen, flowers, birds, wildlife, bonsai, hummingbirds
+|features=evergreen, flowers, birds, wildlife, bees, hummingbirds
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring
−|Temp Metric=°F
+|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
−|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
+|flowers=orange, yellow
−|image=Upload.png
+|Min Temp Num=-10
−|image_width=240
+|Temp Metric=°C
+|min_zone=8
+|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
+|max_zone=10
+|image=Kowhai flowers.jpg
+|image_width=200
}}
}}
−'''''Sophora Tetraptera''''' or simply '''[[Kowhai]]''' is a moderately fast growing, evergreen that is native to New Zealand and parts of Chile. It is the national flower of New Zealand.
+The young branches, leaves and flower buds are covered with a fine down that is brown in colour. During the spring, the tree is covered in [[raceme|racemes]] of golden yellow flowers. The leaves are about 8-10 cm in length and pinnate and bearing around 10-20 pairs of 20-35mm leaflets. The tree itself has an airy graceful habit.
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==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
−''S. tetraptera'' is best planted in a sunny or semi shaded position with moist, free draining soil. It is commonly seen growing along rivers and streams in the North Island of New Zealand. It grows from around sea level up to 500m. The tree is slightly earlier flowering than its cousin, ''[[sophora microphylla|S. microphylla]]''.
===Propagation===
===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.
+The Kowhai can be grown from 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===
===Pests and diseases===
−==Species==
+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).
−<!-- This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc -->
+==Cultivars==
+{{edit-cultivar}}<!--- Enter any known cultivars below this line, then delete this entire line -->
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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<gallery>
<gallery>
−Image:Upload.png| photo 1
+Image:Kowhai flowers.jpg| A close-up of ''S. tetraptera'' flowers.
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
Image:Upload.png| photo 3