Is the Chinese scholar tree a deciduous or evergreen plant?

At the mention of the Chinese scholar tree (Sophora japonica), everyone is surely familiar with it; not only is the tree tall, but it also has a very good greening effect, and most importantly, its bark, branches and leaves, flower buds, and seeds can all be used as medicine, so its application value is very high. So is the Chinese scholar tree deciduous or evergreen?

1. Is the Chinese scholar tree a deciduous or evergreen plant?

The Chinese scholar tree is a deciduous tree. It generally blooms and grows leaves in spring, and after autumn it sheds a large number of leaves, not shedding completely until mid-to-late November, and then grows them again the following year. At present, it is mostly used as a street tree in the north, and can also be used for greening in industrial and mining areas, playing a role in windbreak and sand fixation.

2. Why is the locust tree called the Chinese scholar tree?

The locust tree is a general term; the Chinese scholar tree is one variety among the locust trees. The Chinese scholar tree is a native Chinese locust tree without thorns, and its flowers and fruits are used as medicine! The locust tree is also called the black locust; after being introduced to England in the tenth century it was used as a kind of fence in gardens. The locust tree is an ancient tree species native to China, widely distributed in China, with a long history of cultivation. For thousands of years, the Chinese people have formed a cultural phenomenon of worshipping the locust tree. The locust tree has so many uses, and it is closely related to the daily life and production of ancient people, such as eating, clothing, housing, use, travel, labor, and disease prevention and treatment.

In addition, the locust tree is the ghost among trees; because its yin energy is heavy and it easily attracts ghosts to possess people, feng shui practice forbids planting it near houses, so it is also called the ghost tree. For example, in ancient Chinese legends there are often locust trees, the old locust tree among the Seven Fairies, and in the story of the dream of the southern branch the great Huai'an kingdom is an ant hole under a locust tree, and so on; moreover, when ancient people committed suicide by hanging, they also liked to choose the locust tree.

The character “huai” is composed of a wood character and a ghost character, so the locust tree also has the title of ghost locust. In terms of feng shui, the locust tree belongs to yin, and is also called the ghost among trees. At the same time, the locust tree is not easy to grow, but if a long time passes it will grow especially thick and strong, and folk legends often say it will develop spiritual power and have gods living in it; if the tree is cut down rashly, it will offend the resident gods. Therefore, ancient locust trees have feng shui considerations, and should not be cut down casually!