Sophora davidii -- Dwarf Pagoda Tree -- Also called Dwarf Scholar Tree, both common names being due to its relation to the far more common Sophora japonica, which, despite its name, is native to China, as is Sophora davidii. It's also called David's Mountain Laurel, and is synomyous with S. viciifolia. Now that the name is out of the way, we can describe the shrub: it's deciduous and grows to around 6-8'. The blue-green foliage is finely and compoundly pinnate, and the blue and white flowers are unusual and very attractive. This shrub is rare in nurseries, and has a lot of good features, including its small-garden size, pretty flowers, fine foliage, ornamental seed pods. Its black stems even provide winter interest, so there's something nice going on all year. Grows in full sun to part shade in well-drained soils. Zones 5-9
Photo by A. Barra. GNU Free Documentation license
Sophora microphylla, Dwarf Kowhai, is a small (6-8') tree with pinnate leaves consisting of many tiny, round leaflets. Pendant clusters of tubular, bright yellow, 2-inch tubular flowers, followed by pods like rows of beads. In New Zealand, the showy spring flowers attract native tuis and bell birds into the garden, but if the plant had no flowers, it would be grown anyway for its fine foliage. Apparently hardy in Zone 8, and since we learned this we have had trouble keeping them in stock. Limited supply.
Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby: Despite the name 'prostrata', this little shrub more often grows in an upright form. to about 5'. Much-branched stems grow in a zig-zag fashion, sporting tiny leaflets. Gold to orange-yellow flowers in spring. The wiry stems and tiny leaves make for a distinctive appearance, but somewhat reiminiscent of Corokia cotoneaster. A natural bonsai or rock garden specimen, 4' pots of this rare shrub commonly sell for more than $15.