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Created page with '{{SPlantbox |familia=Fabaceae |genus=Sophora |species=Molloyi |common_name=Cook Strait Kowhai, Molloys Kowhai |habit=shrub |Min ht box=1.2 |Min ht metric=m |Max ht box=3 |Max ht …'
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Fabaceae
|genus=Sophora
|species=Molloyi
|common_name=Cook Strait Kowhai, Molloys Kowhai
|habit=shrub
|Min ht box=1.2
|Min ht metric=m
|Max ht box=3
|Max ht metric=m
|Min wd box=1.2
|Min wd metric=m
|Max wd box=3
|Max wd metric=m
|origin=Cook strait region, New Zealand.
|poisonous=All parts are poisonous
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun, part-sun
|water=moist
|features=evergreen, flowers, birds, wildlife, bees, bonsai
|flower_season=early winter, mid winter, late winter
|flowers=yellow
|Min Temp Num=10
|Temp Metric=°C
|min_zone=8
|max_zone=10
|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!
|image=Upload.png
|image_width=240
}}
'''''S. molloyi''''' or '''Cook Strait Kowhai''' is a medium sized shrub natively found only on islands in and around Cook Strait, New Zealand. 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 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 moth caterpillar can defoliate the plant and burrow into soft, new seeds. It is recommended that you spray with an insecticide such as Confidor.

==Varieties==
*''[[S. molloyi 'Dragon's Gold']]''
*''[[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}}

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