Flower profile

Māmane

Sophora chrysophylla

Māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) is a shrub or small tree in the Fabaceae family, blooming mostly January–December across the U.S.

Native to Hawaii

Māmane is a flowering plant. In Hawaii it's most often seen in bloom in January–December.

1states where USDA records it

1,420HI sightings*

1,420U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

Sophora chrysophylla, known as māmane in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is highly polymorphic, growing as a shrub or tree, and able to reach a height of 15 m (49 ft) in tree form. Yellow flowers are produced in winter and spring.
From Wikipedia's article Sophora chrysophylla, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Fabaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Hawaii. ^NatureServe
In Hawaii, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as winter. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 40 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 1,420 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #28 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Hawaii, most flowering sightings come in January–December.

Flowering records by month in Hawaii (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (59 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G3 Vulnerable worldwide. ^NatureServe
Hawaii: Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Hawaii. ^{HAR 13-107}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Hawaii. ^NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records māmane in 1 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Hawaii.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Māmane a medium shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to 24 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: 24 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 350
Annual precipitation range: 40 to 150 inches
Minimum root depth: 24 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Year Round
Fruit or seed: Yellow · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SOCH. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 4 counties across 1 states; the most are in Hawaii (4).

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.

More Hawaii flowers

Sensitive plant

Mimosa pudica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in HI: February–December

Sensitive pea

Chamaecrista nictitans

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in HI: January–December

Kiawe

Neltuma pallida

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in HI

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SOCH.
iNaturalist, Sophora chrysophylla: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Sophora chrysophylla (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Sophora chrysophylla (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.