Texas mountain laurel with dense flowers
On February 25th, 2013, I photographed a Texas mountain laurel, Sophora secundiflora, that was blossoming its head off. This is the bush whose flowers some people say smell like grape Kool-Aid.
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I’m still away from home. I welcome your comments, but please understand if I’m slow in responding from the other side of the world.
© 2015 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Wow, it sure looks like your laurel is hardy.
Mike Powell
February 25, 2015 at 6:30 AM
As is often the case with common botanical names, this one is misleading, because the plant isn’t a laurel but a member of the bean family. By coincidence, I saw a native New Zealand species of Sophora a few days ago.
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Did you miss Mike’s joke?
Steve Gingold
February 25, 2015 at 5:58 PM
I’ll plead guilty to missing such an obvious (and clever) reference. Blame it on the difference in time zone—and to two weeks of driving on the wrong side of the street.
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 11:31 PM
A new one on me! The racemes look very similar to those of a wisteria and the colour too. Any relationship? Or perhaps to the Jacaranda tree? Sure is a beauty 🙂
Heyjude
February 25, 2015 at 7:15 AM
Happy new, Jude. I see that jacaranda is in the Bignoniaceae, but wisteria is indeed in the same Fabaceae family as the Texas mountain laurel.
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 12:31 PM
That’s interesting. Now to find out how to grow a Texas mountain laurel when not in Texas 😀 or indeed on a mountain!
Heyjude
February 25, 2015 at 12:51 PM
Don’t know how doable that is, but good luck if you attempt it.
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 11:25 PM
So pretty! It will be nice to grow this tree someday! Does it set seeds easily?
myfoodandflowers
February 25, 2015 at 12:16 PM
I’m afraid I’m no gardener and can’t tell you about propagation (at least not based on my experience), but here’s a pertinent article:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/2011/sep/grow-cb-tml.html
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 12:35 PM
Thanks! But I just checked its growing zones, it has to grow in usda zones 7 or warmer. 😦
myfoodandflowers
February 25, 2015 at 12:40 PM
Such a gorgeous specimen. First thought is the panicles look a little like those found on wisteria…I am off to the internet to get more information.
Charlie@Seattle Trekker
February 25, 2015 at 4:33 PM
It’s in the same botanical family, the bean family, as wisteria.
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 11:21 PM
Like Charlie, my first impression was that this reminded of Wisteria. Super lushitudiness.
Steve Gingold
February 25, 2015 at 6:00 PM
You win the prize for lushitudiness.
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 11:22 PM
Gorgeous. Great colors and contrast. I love the mix of purple and green against this solid blue, the composition works well. Lovely and I would like to smell flowers that smell like grape Kool-Aid!
eLPy
February 25, 2015 at 8:45 PM
Colors and composition I can give you, but we’re still short of a way to convey scents over the Internet. Some people find the scent of these flowers cloying, while others think they smell wonderful.
Steve Schwartzman
February 25, 2015 at 11:23 PM
One day, one day we’ll have scratch and sniff screens. 😉
eLPy
March 2, 2015 at 8:01 PM
Let’s hope so.
Steve Schwartzman
March 2, 2015 at 8:26 PM
Steve, could I use some of these pictures on our blog, giving you credit? Beautiful!!!
http://www.dallasgardenbuzz.com
Ann Lamb
March 24, 2020 at 9:22 AM
I’m glad you like these pictures. Yes, you can use a few, provided you include links back to this blog.
Steve Schwartzman
March 24, 2020 at 9:55 AM
Thank you, will definitely include links.
Ann Lamb
March 24, 2020 at 10:15 AM