Sophora prostrata is commonly known as kowhai, prostrate kowhai or dwarf kowhai 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.