Sophora microphylla , kowhai, weeping kowhai,  or small-leaved kowhai is endemic to areas throughout the main islands of New Zealand but scarce in parts of Northland. In the North Island, especially the northern half this is a species of mainly riparian forest, and South of about Hamilton it can be found in a diverse range of habitats from coastal cliff faces and associated wetlands to inland grey scrub communities. It is scarce to absent over large parts of the eastern North Island from about East Cape south to the northern Wairarapa. A tree up to 25 m tall, usually a single trunk, it has weeping, and spreading branches. Juveniles are divaricating and/or strongly flexuose, and interlacing.  The seedlings are sparsely to moderately leafy, and can be distinguished from the other Kowhai species by the divaricating/filiramulate juvenile and arborescent adult, leaves. It has bright yellow flowers (May-) August to October. These flowers are considered New Zealands national flower.