Sophora tetraptera, a well-known native tree of New Zealand commonly referred to as large-leaved kōwhai, typically grows to a height of about 20 to 40 feet, though in favorable natural conditions it can occasionally reach up to 50 feet tall, with a canopy spread of roughly 15 to 30 feet wide, forming a broad, rounded crown. The trunk is often relatively short and can measure between 8 and 18 inches in diameter, frequently developing a gnarled or slightly twisted appearance with age. Its compound leaves usually range from 4 to 8 inches in total length, bearing multiple small, smooth-edged leaflets that are each approximately 0.5 to 1 inch long. In spring, the tree produces its iconic drooping clusters of bright yellow flowers, each blossom measuring about 1 to 2 inches in length and arranged in racemes that can extend 3 to 6 inches long, creating a striking visual display that is characteristic of New Zealand landscapes. After flowering, elongated seed pods form, typically about 4 to 8 inches long and around 0.25 to 0.5 inches thick, often constricted between seeds, giving them a segmented, bead-like appearance. Overall, this species exhibits a moderate growth rate and a spreading, picturesque form, with dimensions that make it suitable for medium to large garden spaces or naturalistic plantings.