Naturally shrubby with shoots emerging from the lower trunk, this one near the street had overgrown to the point where it was hiding the front of the house and landscape we worked so hard to display.
I prefer a more sculptural look for better visibility of the house and landscaping, so this week it got a trim.
It's okay to prune Sophora secundiflora most of the year except when they are setting blooms in late winter. You wouldn't want to cut off these incredibly fragrant and stunning blooms. (Sneaking in blooms for Foliage Follow-up it's almost impossible to not mention blooms when writing about this plant.)
You'll notice it's a bit smaller now. Just like a fresh haircut it will grow and settle in to take on the same striking sculptural presence in the front garden it has had in the past.
Works so much better! You can see the other one against the garage remains shrubby which works for that location.
Works so much better! You can see the other one against the garage remains shrubby which works for that location.
You can find my in depth profile of Sophora secundiflora at this link. For more Foliage Follow-up posts check out the comments section at Digging.
The haircut looks good and the sculptural trunks echo the live oaks nicely! What a great plant!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great point, visual echoes are always good.
DeleteIt's a beautiful plant. Every time I see one of your posts on this species I wonder why I don't find it for sale here - it's as pretty as a Jacaranda without the mess.
ReplyDeleteIt should work in your mild climate but I don't remember ever seeing them in CA. There are some native Sophora that should be available.
DeleteIt's gorgeous in bloom, I'm also wondering why I haven't seen it here, it might make it most winters but I get those fluke conditions that kill off plants every few years. Your trimming job looks great!
ReplyDeleteThese are very cold hardy and do well quite far north.
DeleteOne of my favorite native Texans. I pruned up all my small trees this spring, but with all this rain I think I really need to get out there and do some more.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a challenge to keep up with all the growth this year.
DeleteI love the Texas Mountain Laurel but I don't see them here either. I'm not much further north from you so I'm not sure why. I love the sculptural look. I like seeing the bones of a small tree like this.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a few but they are native to the Central Texas and seem to be most popular around here.
DeleteSuch a great idea to take before and after photos! I need to do that more often! And thanks for letting us know to go to Pam's comments section to link to the other bloggers. I enjoyed seeing all the others Foliage Follow- ups also!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of fun to see what's going on in other blogger's area.
DeleteNicely done! I've done a lot of trimming around here but with the ongoing rains things are still growing and getting leggy. And leaning. And getting all up in each other's business. I just hope my ongoing efforts will show the beneficial side of pruning, as yours have here.
ReplyDeleteI have been trimming so many more plants this year.
DeleteMuch better, now it can develop a higher canopy with the training you did.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, the higher canopy will open up the view even more.
DeleteI never thought of trimming mine but then they have a less prominent spot in my landscape. Are you careful not to prune off next years blooms?
ReplyDeleteOh yes, we didn't see any of the bloom strings yet. There may be fewer blooms due to fewer branches but it's worth it every once in a while.
Deletethat's the sort of pruning I admire. I need to work my way steadily around the inherited plants and coax them into more appealing shapes.
ReplyDelete