Pollinator plant

Japanese pagoda tree

Sophora japonica

Pollinator recipe
Sign in to use recipes

Common names

37 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (23)
Dutch
  • Honingboom
  • Japanse honingboom[2][3]
  • Snoerboom
French
Afrikaans
  • Japanse pagodeboom[3]
Arabic
  • صفيراء اليابان[3]
Armenian
  • Սոֆորա ճապոնական[3]
Catalan
  • Acàcia del Japó[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • jerlín japonský[3]
Finnish
  • japaninpagodipuu[3]
German
  • Japanischer Schnurbaum[2][3]
Hebrew
  • סופורה יפנית[3]
Hungarian
  • közönséges japánakác[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • エンジュ[3]
Korean
  • 회화나무[3]
Polish
  • Perełkowiec japoński[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Софора японская[3]
Slovak
  • soforovec japonský[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • pagodträd[3]
Turkish
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Styphnolobium japonicum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Japanese Pagoda Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Chinese Scholar Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Japanese Pagoda — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Scholar Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Styphnolobium japonicum.
[2] Styphnolobium japonicum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese pagoda tree — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Japanischer Schnurbaum — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Chinese scholar tree — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Chinese scholartree — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • pagoda tree — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Acacia del Japón — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Árbol pagoda asiático — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Arbre aux pagodes — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Sophora du Japon — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Sofora del Giappone — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Japanse honingboom — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Acácia-do-japão — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Sófora-do-japão — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
[3] Styphnolobium japonicum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese pagoda tree — results[8].names[1]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Japanischer Schnurbaum — results[8].names[9]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Chinese scholar tree — results[8].names[12]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Chinese scholartree — results[8].names[13]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • pagoda tree — results[8].names[23]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Acacia del Japón — results[8].names[30]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Árbol pagoda asiático — results[8].names[3]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Arbre aux pagodes — results[8].names[8]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Sophora du Japon — results[8].names[7]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Sofora del Giappone — results[8].names[5]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Japanse honingboom — results[8].names[18]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Acácia-do-japão — results[8].names[2]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Sófora-do-japão — results[8].names[6]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Acàcia del Japó — results[8].names[4]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • jerlín japonský — results[8].names[10]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • 槐樹 — results[8].names[11]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Софора японская — results[8].names[14]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • 槐 — results[8].names[15]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • エンジュ — results[8].names[16]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • صفيراء اليابان — results[8].names[17]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • 회화나무 — results[8].names[19]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • 槐 — results[8].names[20]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • pagodträd — results[8].names[21]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Japanse pagodeboom — results[8].names[22]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • 槐树 — results[8].names[24]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • סופורה יפנית — results[8].names[25]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • 国槐 — results[8].names[26]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Սոֆորա ճապոնական — results[8].names[27]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Perełkowiec japoński — results[8].names[28]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • közönséges japánakác — results[8].names[29]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • japaninpagodipuu — results[8].names[31]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • soforovec japonský — results[8].names[32]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
  • Sofora — results[8].names[33]; taxon id 53945; Styphnolobium japonicum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Sophora japonica as a synonym of Styphnolobium japonicum.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Fabaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
15.24–22.86 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Mature spread
15.24–22.86 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Broad; Erect; Rounded; Spreading

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile, published as Styphnolobium japonicum; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [3]
Native range
C. & S. China.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) is a tree. It flowers from July to August.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Sophora japonica — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): Fabaceae. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2474265; ID 6Z75Y; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Styphnolobium japonicum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): Fabaceae. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1307738; ID 53BWG; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1307738; ID 53BWG; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Styphnolobium japonicum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Styphnolobium japonicum — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 350951, 350966; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1111156, 1111157, 1111158

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.