# Necklace pod (*Sophora tomentosa*) The Necklace Pod is a special plant with beautiful yellow flowers and long, unique seed pods that look like necklaces! It loves warm, sunny places and can be found near the beach. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Necklace pod](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Starr_031108-2065_Sophora_tomentosa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_031108-2065_Sophora_tomentosa.jpg) ## Appearance The Necklace pod is a shrub or small tree with distinctive silvery-green, velvety leaves. It produces upright clusters of bright yellow, pea-like flowers. Its most notable feature is the fuzzy, beaded seed pods that resemble a string of pearls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Sophora ## Interesting facts - Even after falling, its tough seeds can sprout years later! - It can live for many, many years in warm, sunny places around the world. - Its long seed pods really do look like a string of fuzzy green beads! - Some call it "Silverbush" because of its soft, shimmering leaf color! ## Special abilities - **Ocean Navigator:** Necklace pod can survive long ocean journeys because its buoyant seeds float in seawater, helping it spread to new coastal areas. - **Nitrogen Booster:** Necklace pod hosts special bacteria in its roots that create natural fertilizer, helping it thrive in poor, sandy soils. - **Salt Shield:** Necklace pod can withstand salty sea spray because its velvety leaves protect it from the harsh coastal environment. - **Drought Buster:** Necklace pod can tolerate very dry conditions, allowing it to grow successfully on exposed beaches and dunes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-400 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring through fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honey bees collect nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Ceraunus Blue](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ceraunus-blue) (*Hemiargus ceraunus*) — Ceraunus Blue butterfly larvae feed on its leaves and flowers. - **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Bacteria in its roots help it get nitrogen from the air. ## Traits - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat any part of the plant without asking an adult, as some plants can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Necklace pod? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Necklace pod? 100-400 cm ### How wide does Necklace pod spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Necklace pod? 1-2 cm ### When does Necklace pod bloom? Late spring through fall ### Is Necklace pod edible? No ### Is Necklace pod toxic? Moderate ### What is Necklace pod's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Tamiami Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tamiami-regional-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Necklace pod: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/necklace-pod)