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Chinese Scholar Tree (Sophora japonica)

Chinese Scholar Tree (Sophora japonica)

Business Information

(1) FOB Price: $30-$80

(2) Supply Capacity: Long-term stock availability/year

(3) Delivery Time: Shipped 7-15 days after prepayment

(4) Service Content: Root washing and packaging, customized transplant packaging

询价 View full details

Scientific Name: Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott (formerly Sophora japonica L.)

Common Names: Pagoda Tree, Scholar Tree, Chinese Scholar Tree

Classification: Fabaceae, Styphnolobium · Deciduous Tree / Street and Shade Tree

1. Varietal Characteristics

  • Morphology: Deciduous tree, height 15–25(up to 30) m; crown broad-ovate or flat-spherical; bark grayish-black, longitudinally fissured; twigs green (current year), grayish-brown (old); leaves alternate, odd-pinnate, with 7–17 leaflets, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–5 cm long, entire margin, dark green and glossy surface.

  • Flowers: Terminal panicles, butterfly-shaped corolla, creamy white or pale yellow, fragrant; blooming period July–August (late summer to early autumn, later than most spring-flowering trees); pods bead-like, fleshy, yellowish-green when ripe, persistent through winter.

  • Seasonal Performance: Dense green shade in summer → golden yellow leaves in autumn → bead-like pods and fissured bark in winter; an excellent summer-shade and autumn-color tree.

2. Ecological Habits

  • Light: Heliophilous species, prefers full sun; grows robustly with abundant blooms under full light; tolerates light partial shade.

  • Soil: Highly adaptable to soil types; thrives in loose, fertile, well-drained slightly acidic to neutral sandy loam; tolerates light salinity, poor soil, and drought; avoids waterlogged lowlands.

  • Resistance: Extremely cold-hardy (withstands temperatures below -20°C); drought-tolerant, pruning-tolerant, with strong budding capacity; highly resistant to harmful gases (SO2, Cl2); excellent dust and noise reduction effects; few pests and diseases (occasional Geometrid larvae, aphids, or canker).

3. Engineering Application Scenarios

  • Street Tree: Used along urban main roads, highways, and national roads; dense crown provides excellent shade.

  • Shade Tree: Solitary or group planting in parks, squares, and residential green spaces to provide thick summer shade.

  • Industrial Greening: Strong pollution resistance makes it suitable for chemical plants, power plants, and mining areas.

  • Specialized Gardens: Native plant gardens, autumn-color gardens, and legume family collections.

4. Seedling Quality Indicators

Item Name

Specifications & Parameters

DBH / Caliper

Φ 5 cm / Φ 6 cm / Φ 7 cm / Φ 8 cm (Graded by design)

Height (H)

200–400 cm (Matched to DBH)

Crown Width (P)

≥ 200–300 cm, symmetrical and full crown, no leaning

Branching Point

Uniform and neat (usually 200–250 cm or per design), 3–5 main branches layered

Root Ball Size

8–10 times the DBH, standard straw rope wrapping, complete root system

Quality Requirements

Straight trunk without sharp bends, bark free of mechanical damage, no trunk-boring pests (Longhorn beetles), no canker/rot

5. Planting and Maintenance Key Points

  • Planting Period: Best from leaf-fall in autumn to before budding in early spring; container seedlings can extend the construction period (avoiding peak summer heat).

  • Water and Fertilizer: Thoroughly water after planting; apply decomposed organic or composite fertilizer 2–3 times during the growing season; drought-tolerant but grows faster if soil is kept moist; avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot.

  • Pruning: During winter dormancy, thin out crowded, crossing, or inward-growing branches to cultivate a straight main trunk; light pruning is sufficient, avoid heavy pruning.

  • Pest Control: Focus on controlling Geometrid larvae (inchworms), aphids, and canker; seal and treat trunk-boring pests immediately upon discovery.