Translate this page:

Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Weeping.

Physical Characteristics

Caragana pygmaea is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.2 m (4ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It can fix Nitrogen.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly 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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root - cooked[105]. An emergency food, used when all else fails[177].

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

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.

More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Fuel String

The shoots are very flexible, they are used like string for tying[11]. The wood is used for fuel[146].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife Food Forest Nitrogen Fixer

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Specimen. Prefers full sun and a light sandy dry or very well-drained soil[1, 11, 200]. Does not require a rich soil, succeeding on marginal land[1, 11]. Tolerant of dry alkaline soils. A very ornamental plant[1], it prefers a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters, it does not grow so well in mild maritime areas such as the western half of Britain. 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]. Special Features:Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

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, July/August in a frame[113]. Layering in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Altay, Buryatia, China, Gorno-Altay, Hakasija, Irkutsk, Kazakhstan (east), Krasnoyarsk, Mongolia, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Respublika, Respublika, Tyva, Ust Orda Buryat,Russian Federation.

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 itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Caragana arborescens	Siberian Pea Tree, Siberian peashrub	Shrub	6.0	2-7	F	LM	N	DM	5	1	4
Caragana boisii	Siberian peatree	Shrub	2.0	2-9	F	LM	N	DM	4	0	4
Caragana brevispina	Long-Stalked Pea-shrub	Shrub	2.5	4-9		LM	N	DM	4	1	3
Caragana decorticans		Shrub	5.4	5-9		LM	N	DM	0	0	1
Caragana frutex	Russian pea shrub	Shrub	1.2	2-7	S	LM	N	DM	0	0	2
Caragana fruticosa	Siberian Peashrub,	Shrub	2.0	0-0	F	LM	N	DM	3	0	5
Caragana gerardiana		Shrub	1.0	4-8		LMH	N	M	0	0	3
Caragana jubata	Shag-Spine	Shrub	1.0	3-7		LM	N	DM	0	1	3
Caragana microphylla	Littleleaf Peashrub	Shrub	2.0	4-9	F	LM	N	M	0	0	3
Caragana sinica	Chinese Pea Shrub	Shrub	1.5	5-9		LM	N	DM	1	2

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.

Caragana pygmaea - (L.)DC.