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Caragana microphylla - Lam.

Common Name Littleleaf Peashrub
Family Fabaceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Consolidated and semiconsolidated sand dunes, rocky mountain slopes; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,000 metres
Range E. Asia - southern Siberia, Mongolia, northern and central China
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Caragana microphylla Littleleaf Peashrub


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Caragana microphylla Littleleaf Peashrub
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Caragana microphylla is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Aspalathus microphyllus (Lam.) Kuntze. Caragana altagana Poir. Caragana microphylla f. cinerea Kom. Caragana microphylla f. daurica Kom. Caragana microphylla var. microphylla. Caragana microphylla f. pallasiana Kom. Caragana microphylla f. viridis Kom. Robinia altagana L'Her. Robinia microphylla (Lam.) Pall.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fodder  Hedge  Shelterbelt  Soil stabilization  Straw

This species is planted for dune stabilization and for soil and water conservation[266]. Carbon Farming - Agroforestry Services: nitrogen, contour hedgerow, windbreak. Fodder: bank.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Coppice  Food Forest  Hedge  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Contour hedgerow  Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Fodder: Bank  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

Caragana microphylla prefers a continental climate with its hot summers, cold winters and usually a clear movement from one season to another. The dormant plant can tolerate temperatures down to at least -30°c, but in more maritime climates it is often tempted to come into growth early and this new growth can easily be damaged by late spring frosts[200 ]. Prefers full sun and a light sandy dry or well-drained soil[1 , 11 , 200 ]. Dislikes damp conditions[1 ]. Does not require a rich soil, succeeding on marginal land[11 ]. Caragana microphylla is a polymorphic species and in some cases with transitional forms[266 ]. Hybrids between this species and Caragana korshinskii may occur where these species are sympatric[266 ]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200 ]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200 ]. Climate: boreal to warm temperate. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard, coppice.

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Contour hedgerow  Alley cropping systems on the contour of slopes.
  • Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
  • Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Linear plantings of trees and shrubs designed to enhance crop production, protect people and livestock and benefit soil and water conservation.
  • Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[200 ]. It usually germinates in 2 weeks[K ]. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water then sown in a cold frame[78 , 113 , 200 ]. If the seed has not swollen then scarify it and re-soak for another 12 hours before sowing[138 ]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c[138 ]. Good percentage[11 ]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame[113 ]. Layering in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Littleaf Caragana

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation (Chita, Tyva, Respublika), Mongolia (north), China (Gansu Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Caragana arborescensSiberian Pea Tree, Siberian peashrubShrub6.0 2-7 FLMNDM514
Caragana boisiiSiberian peatreeShrub2.0 2-9 FLMNDM404
Caragana brevispinaLong-Stalked Pea-shrubShrub2.5 4-9  LMNDM413
Caragana decorticans Shrub5.4 5-9  LMNDM001
Caragana frutexRussian pea shrubShrub1.2 2-7 SLMNDM002
Caragana fruticosaSiberian Peashrub,Shrub2.0 0-0 FLMNDM305
Caragana gerardiana Shrub1.0 4-8  LMHNM003
Caragana jubataShag-SpineShrub1.0 3-7  LMNDM013
Caragana pygmaeaPygmy PeashrubShrub1.2 3-7 SLMNDM102
Caragana sinicaChinese Pea ShrubShrub1.5 5-9  LMNDM12 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Lam.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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