Siberian Pea Shrub
Caragana arborescens
Also listed as Aspalathus caragana, Caragana caragana
Also known as Siberian Pea-tree, Common Caragana, Pea Tree
Climate Match for your location
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A hardy, nitrogen-fixing shrub with fine compound foliage and small yellow flowers, highly valued in permaculture for soil improvement and cold-climate resilience. Extremely drought-tolerant once established and useful as a windbreak or pioneer species.
Why grow it
Caragana arborescens fixes atmospheric nitrogen without requiring inoculant, making it useful for building soil fertility in nutrient-poor sites. Among cold-hardy nitrogen fixers, it tolerates drier conditions than many leguminous alternatives and establishes quickly in windswept locations. Its dense, fine-textured foliage and moderate mature size (3-6 m) suit it to shelterbelts and pioneer plantings where taller or more water-demanding species would struggle.
Watch out for
Siberian pea shrub can self-seed prolifically in suitable conditions, sometimes requiring management to prevent unintended spread within a planting site. The small, hard seeds may persist in soil for years, so removal of seed pods before ripening helps contain populations if control becomes desirable.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Siberia, Mongolia, Northern China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A hardy, nitrogen-fixing shrub with fine compound foliage and small yellow flowers, highly valued in permaculture for soil improvement and cold-climate resilience. Extremely drought-tolerant once established and useful as a windbreak or pioneer species.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Siberian Pea Shrub grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Caragana arborescens fixes atmospheric nitrogen without requiring inoculant, making it useful for building soil fertility in nutrient-poor sites. Among cold-hardy nitrogen fixers, it tolerates drier conditions than many leguminous alternatives and establishes quickly in windswept locations. Its dense, fine-textured foliage and moderate mature size (3-6 m) suit it to shelterbelts and pioneer plantings where taller or more water-demanding species would struggle.
Watch out for
Siberian pea shrub can self-seed prolifically in suitable conditions, sometimes requiring management to prevent unintended spread within a planting site. The small, hard seeds may persist in soil for years, so removal of seed pods before ripening helps contain populations if control becomes desirable.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Siberia, Mongolia, Northern China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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