Eve's Necklace is an ornamental tree found on limestone soils in the state's center from north-central Texas through the Edwards Plateau. The dark, lustrous green leaves set off in a rounded to upright oval crown. In spring, it produces rosy-pink flowers that hang in wisteria-like clusters, followed by fruit pods in late summer and fall that resemble a black string of beads, giving it its common name. The seeds are reportedly poisonous.
Eve's Necklace can grow in the sun or as an understory tree; it can even be vine-like in dense woods. It is related to Texas Mountain Laurel, Sophora secundiflora, and Evergreen.
Plant it in the full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil and use it as an understory tree. Trees in full sun tend to be shorter in height than those receiving shade. Flowering will be more abundant when planted in full sun.
Hardy in Zones 7 through 9. It can also be grown as a container plant in more excellent locations and relocated indoors during colder months. Repot when growth has reduced, indicating that the container has become too small for the roots to spread properly.
