Long-Stalked Pea-shrub
Caragana brevispina
Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae
What it is like
Caragana brevispina is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft) by 1.8 m (6ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower in June, 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. 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.
Height (m): 2.5
Where it is found
Higher forests, in the undergrowth of fir and oak forests or in open glades on dry ridges from 1500 - 2700 metres.
E. Asia - N.W. Himalayas..
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan,
How it is used
Food
Rating: 4
Seed - cooked. Small but produced in abundance. The seed of a plant seen at the Royal Horticultural Gardens, Wisley in Surrey in September 1993 was about twice the size of C. arborescens but it had a distinctly bitter taste. High in protein, it has been recommended as an emergency food for humans. Young buds - cooked as a green vegetable.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 1
A decoction of the plant is taken in the treatment of aching joints.
Other
Rating: 3
Plants can be grown as a hedge, they are very spiny and provide an impenetrable barrier. The extensive root system of this plant makes it useful for planting to control soil erosion. Wood - hard, close grained. An important fuel wood for people living at high elevations.
Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.
Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
Hedge: Hedge
Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil
How it is grown
Succeeds in most well-drained soils, but prefers full sun and a light sandy dry or well-drained soil. Does not require a rich soil, succeeding on marginal land. Succeeds in acid or alkaline soils. Established plants are drought resistant. This species is hardy to at least -20°c, it prefers a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters so it does not grow so well in the milder western half of Britain. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. 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.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. It usually germinates in 2 weeks. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water then sown in a cold frame. If the seed has not swollen then scarify it and re-soak for another 12 hours before sowing. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c. Good percentage. 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. Layering in spring.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Hedge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 4-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
Reports that this plant contains toxins have not been substantiated. The occurrence of cystine in the seeds is doubtful.
Its other names
Local names
Long-Stalked Pea-shrub, Pea Tree, Bebali kanda