Sophora mollis

Sophora mollis is a deciduous shrub in the pea family, Fabaceae. It grows to about 6.6 feet [2 metres] tall. Its native range includes the Himalayas and nearby parts of Asia. Records list Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and northwest India. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows among rocks in dry valleys. It also forms groups on hillsides. Recorded sites lie at 3,937–6,562 feet [1,200–2,000 metres] above sea level.

This shrub needs full sun and cannot grow in shade. It suits a sunny site at a woodland edge. Give it a hot, dry spot with soil that drains well. It grows in sand, loam, or clay, provided drainage is good. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. Moderately fertile soil suits it. It can grow in dry or moist ground. In Britain, outdoor growth suits the warmer parts of the country. Summer heat helps the wood mature before winter cold arrives. Reported cold tolerance reaches about 5°F [-15°C]. The listed USDA range is zones 7–10.

Grow young plants in pots before planting them in place. Older plants do not move well. For seed propagation, sow fresh seed in a greenhouse when ripe. Soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot, not boiling, water. Sow it in late winter under glass. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them under cover for their first two years. Plant them out in early summer of their third year. Other methods include air-layering and heel cuttings from young shoots. Take those cuttings in July or August under a frame.

Root bacteria help this shrub fix nitrogen from the air. The plant uses some, while nearby plants may benefit too. Its hard wood serves as fuel. One source also records seed use against vermin. It lists no known medicinal use and no weed potential. These records do not establish a safe home pest treatment.

Treat claims of food use with care. The source lists leaves as edible, but its supporting report names no part. The plant contains cytisine, a toxic substance with effects like nicotine. This warning makes the uncertain food record a poor basis for eating it.