Sophora prostrata is commonly known as kōwhai, prostrate kōwhai or dwarf kōwhai and grows naturally in the eastern South Island from Marlborough to the Waitaki Valley in New Zealand. 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.The leaves of this species are usually quite small up to about 2cm in length.Flowers are often orange though they do occur as yellow like most other kowhai species.