Practical
Plants

Caragana fruticosa

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Caragana genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
2 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The following report belongs to the closely related C. arborescens. Reports that this plant contains toxins have not been substantiated[17]. The occurrence of cystine in the seeds is doubtful[17].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The following uses are for the closely related C. arborescens and can probably also be applied to this species[K]. Seed - cooked[12][2]. Small but produced in abundance[4], there are 4 - 6 seeds per pod[14]. A bland flavour, it is best used in spicy dishes[9]. The raw seed has a mild pea-like flavour, though we are not sure if it should be eaten in quantity when raw[K]. The seed contains 12.4% of a fatty oil and up to 36% protein[9], it has been recommended as an emergency food for humans[17]. Young pods - cooked and used as a vegetable[15][16][2][8][9].

Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Seedpod

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The following uses are for the closely related C. arborescens and can probably also be applied to this species[K]. A fibre obtained from the bark is used for making cordage[15][16][18]. A blue dye is obtained from the leaves[18]. The seed contains 12.4% of a fatty oil[18]. The plant can be grown as a hedge[7]. It is quite wind-resistant and can also be planted in a shelterbelt[13]. The plant has an extensive root system and can be used for erosion control, especially on marginal land[7].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Oil

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Windbreak

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Korea.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, drought
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[13]. 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[19][5][13]. If the seed has not swollen then scarify it and re-soak for another 12 hours before sowing[6]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c[6]. Good percentage[4]. 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[5]. Layering in spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most well-drained soils, preferring full sun and a light sandy dry or well-drained soil[1][4][13]. Tolerates very alkaline soils[14]. Does not require a rich soil[1][4][3], succeeding on marginal land[7]. Established plants are drought resistant[7]. Fast growing[11]. This species is hardy to at least -30°c[10], 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[13]. This species is closely related to C. arborescens, differing in the larger flowers, shorter seedpods and the stipules being scarcely thorny[4]. It can probably be used in all the ways C. arborescens is used and thus has excellent potential as a human food.[K]. A good bee plant[18]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[13]. 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[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  6. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  11. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  14. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  17. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  19. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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