Necklacepod
Sophora tomentosa
Last reviewed: September 2026
Necklacepod is a shrub that thrives in full sun and sandy, well-drained soil, producing upright spikes of yellow flowers from March through November that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Toxicity unknown
Necklacepod (Sophora tomentosa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
48"–120" H × 48"–60" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
FL, TX
Pollinators
butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
Before you buy
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Necklacepod is a rounded shrub with silvery-green foliage and bright yellow flower spikes that bloom from spring through fall. This coastal native produces distinctive segmented seed pods that give the plant its common name. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and requires minimal water once established.
Growing Necklacepod
Grow Necklacepod in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 48 to 120 inches tall and spread 48 to 60 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Necklacepod takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
The long blooming season provides nectar for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds from March through November. The seeds attract birds and small wildlife.
Common questions
- When does necklacepod bloom?
- Necklacepod produces its yellow flower spikes over a long season, generally from March through November, with flowering often heaviest in warmer months.
- What pollinators does necklacepod attract?
- The flowers draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which visit the tubular yellow blooms for nectar throughout the extended bloom season.
- How much water does necklacepod need?
- Necklacepod prefers low water once established and does well in sandy, fast-draining soil, though it can tolerate occasional periods of more moisture.
- How much sunlight does necklacepod need?
- This shrub performs best in full sun and will also grow in part sun, but flowering is usually fullest with more direct light.
- What growing conditions suit necklacepod best?
- It does well in warm, coastal-type climates with sandy or gritty, well-drained soil and plenty of direct sun exposure.
- Is Necklacepod HOA-friendly?
- Necklacepod takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Necklacepod? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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