Sophora flavescens Seeds | Radix Sophorae
LATIN NAME: Sophora flavescens
COMMON NAME: Ku Shen
Plant Profile
Sophora flavescens, commonly known as Ku Shen, is an upright, bushy perennial in the pea family. Ku shen brooms upright, bushy perennial with pinnate, grey-green leaves and dense, upright clusters of small, pea-like, yellow-white flowers that broom stems through summer, slender, beaded pods following. It grows steadily into rounded, leafy form, and it stands drought and poor soil well. It likes sun, and light, well-drained ground. Together these qualities explain its long-standing appeal to gardeners.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the pea family, Sophora flavescens is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Pea-like flowers of ku shen give it a recognised place in research on steppe perennials of pea family, and flavescens species appears in studies of nitrogen-fixing roots and traditional herb plants. The practical point for growers is that this plant has been observed in gardens for so long that its behaviour holds few surprises.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Ku Shen has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. In dry garden, ku shen brooms dry border with yellow-white pea flowers. Blooms open through summer, roots enrich soil, and plant makes fine wildflower and meadow plant. It grows well in light, well-drained, sunny ground. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
Sophora is a pharmacopoeia in itself: Sophora flavescens root, Ku Shen, is a major Chinese heat-clearing herb for skin and gut, its matrine alkaloids widely studied, while the pagoda tree’s flower buds, Huai Mi, supply rutin by the ton for vascular supplements.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Ku Shen under ordinary good conditions. Surface-sow onto a light, well-drained compost, dust over a thin covering, and keep evenly moist and sunny until the seedlings show. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Its long record of traditional use, described above, gives the plant a story beyond ornament. Ku Shen has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Plant it in sun with drainage to its liking and the rest is easy.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Ku Shen often pair it with these related subjects: