Sophora prostrata is commonly known as kōwhai, prostrate kōwhai or dwarf kōwhai and is endemic to the eastern South Island from Marlborough to the Waitaki Valley in New Zealand although most commonly found on the Banks Peninsula.

It is a low growing shrub, reaching a height of around 2 metres. This species has a divaricating habit that lasts for the life of the shrub unlike other New Zealand Sophora species which lose the divaricating habit as adult trees.

The leaves of this species are usually quite small, up to about 2 cm in length.

Flowers are often orange though they do occur as yellow in common with most other kōwhai species. The seeds are black or very dark brown and may appear dark red. This contrasts with other native New Zealand Sophora species whose seeds are yellow.

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