苦參屬常綠灌木或小喬木，臺灣原生種，琉球、小笠原群島及亞洲熱帶海岸地區或島嶼上等地亦有分佈。全株植物密佈白色或是灰白色毛茸。一回奇數羽狀複葉互生；小葉約有13~19枚，長倒卵形或橢圓形，對生。花呈黃色，圓錐形總狀花序，花期8~10月。果為莢果，呈念珠狀，熟果呈黃綠色，完熟呈乾褐色，果期9~12月。種子球形，黑色具光澤。

An evergreen shrub or small tree in the genus Sophora, native to Taiwan, also distributed in Ryukyu, Ogasawara Islands and tropical coastal areas or islands in Asia. The whole plant is densely covered with white or grayish villi. Alternate, odd pinnately compound leaves composed of 13 to 19 opposite leaflets, long obovate or elliptic. The flowers are yellow with conical racemes, flowering from August to October. The fruit is a bead-shaped pod mature yellowish-green and ripe brown. Fruiting from September to December. Seeds are spherical, black and shiny.

全日照溫暖環境，栽培介質需排水良好。屬於海岸灌叢，是耐鹽性佳、抗強風及抗旱性極佳的樹種。以種子繁殖為主。

The plant prefers full-sun and warm environments and well-drained medium soil. A native coastal shrub with high salt tolerance, strong wind resistance and drought resistance. Propagated mainly by seeding.

可做海岸防風林帶、綠籬、盆栽。根味苦，有毒，具緩瀉、殺菌止痢、袪痰等功效。菲律賓原住民有以葉及種子治胃病者。

It can be used as a coastal windbreak, a hedge, and a potted plant. The root tastes bitter, toxic and can be used to relieve diarrhea, dysentery and cough, and sterilize. Indigenous people in the Philippines use the leaves and seeds to treat stomach diseases.