Siberian pea - Caragana arborescens

Description and Uses

Caragana arborescens (Siberian pea) is a temperate shrub from Russia. It is mainly grown for its conservation crops (long shelflife), The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 3 - 5 years. The first yield will be 1 kg/shrub/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 5 kg/shrub/year. Regarding firewood production the shrub`s growing speed is medium, its energetic value is 4500 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 40 years the shrub can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Caragana arborescens has a lifespan of 55 years.

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Environmental limitations

The shrub is 3 meters tall. It is medium growing and tolerates not less light than shade tolerant. Caragana arborescens has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations (endo-mycorrhiza). It is able to fix nitrogen with Frankiaceae bacteria. The shrub`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by bees. Caragana arborescens is deciduous in dry season and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Caragana arborescens thrives in an altitude of 0 to 2000 meters above sea-level (temperate). The minimum temperature is -40°C and optimally between 5 - 25°C. The optimal rainfall is 1200 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 450 - 1500 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

and diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are orthodox and can be stored for 6 months. There are approximative 75 seeds/kg. Unfortunately propagation instruction is missing.

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