Siberian Pea Tree - Caragana arborescens - €20 per plant 
Seed available

The Siberian Pea Tree is a hardy deciduous shrub or small tree native to Russia and China. It's low maintenance as a stand alone tree, with deep roots that are helpful to prevent soil erosion. The plant provides habitat for many beneficial organisms that are pest predators and pollinators, and being a legume, it fixes nitrogen. It tolerates wind and drought and grows very fast making this an ideal selection for a windbreak. The dense spiny branches also make it a great hedging plant. It loves the sun, so is best planted on the outer, sunny edges. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Europe-Asia
  • native habitat: River banks, pebbles, sands, open forests and forest edges, gully slopes and stony slopes
  • family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae

Predators

  • no experience of any pests or predators 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full Sun
  • soil pH: acid-neutral -basic alkaline
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 2b - 7b
  • Tolerates drought
  • Does not require a rich soil, succeeding on marginal land

Known hazards 

  • Some unsubstantiated reports that this plant contains toxins.

Overview

  • 2nd and 3rd year saplings - 0.6 m - .80 m tall  
  • A a deciduous Shrub growing to 6 x 4m
  • It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in September.
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.
  • It can fix nitrogen.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
  • It cannot grow in the shade.
  • It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
  • The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Characteristics

  • form:  Deciduous woody perennial  
  • layer : Shrub Layer
  • habit: Multi stemmed shrub 
  • height x width (m): 6 x 4
  • years to bearing yield: 3
  • productive life span: 40+ years

Products 

  • Seed pods:  Young buds - cooked as a green vegetable
  • Medicinal:  A decoction of the plant is taken in the treatment of aching joints
  • Dense spiny branches make this a good barrier plant 
  • Wood - hard, close grained.  An important fuel wood for people living at high elevations
  • The shoots and pods make excellent chicken fodder

Functions, behaviours

  • The extensive root system of this plant makes it useful for planting to control soil erosion.
  • Nitrogen fixing capability makes this plant a great candidate for poor soils. 
  • Ideal for windbreak
  • Wildlife Shelter – mainly birds
  • Lacewings prefer to lay eggs on Caragana spp.
  • Parasitic Wasps prefer to rest and hide on Caragana spp.

Polyculture Partners - The Biomass Belt 

If you would like more information about this polyculture click here  for our blog article. 



If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project