Siberian Pea Shrub.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Deciduous shrub

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

15 to 20 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 2 to 7

Bloom time

Late spring

Care

Plant this shrub in a spot with plenty of sun and well-draining soil. Keep an eye out for aphids or spider mites, though it is generally quite resilient. It handles drought well once it's established.

Watering

Water deeply during the first season, then allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early spring before new growth begins.

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering if you need to shape the plant or remove dead wood.

Repotting

If growing in a container, move to a larger pot every few years to accommodate root growth.

Soil

Well-draining, sandy, or loamy soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 8.0

Temperature

-40 to 35°C

Humidity

20 to 60%

Drought tolerance

High

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 20 to 40 years.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

The plant is not considered toxic to humans.

Children

The sharp thorns pose a physical injury risk to small children if planted in high traffic areas.

Contact allergens

The thorns can cause mechanical skin irritation if handled without gloves.

Airborne allergens

There are no notable airborne allergen risks associated with this species.

Edibility

The seeds are edible when cooked, but raw consumption should be avoided due to potential digestive discomfort.

How to identify it

• Yellow pea-like spring flowers
• Compound leaves with small leaflets
• Smooth greenish-gray bark
• Hardy, upright shrub habit

Height

3 to 6m

Spread

2 to 4m

Leaves

bright green, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

• Blister BeetlesCommon
• Powdery MildewCommon
• AphidsUncommon
• Leaf SpotUncommon
• Spider MitesUncommon
• CankerRare

Growing it

Propagation

seed, cuttings

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

No special protection is needed as it is extremely cold hardy.

In containers

It can grow in large containers, but it is much happier when planted directly in the ground.

Pair this shrub with other drought tolerant plants to create a low maintenance landscape.

Grows well with

• Russian Sage · They share similar requirements for sun and well drained soil.
• Purple Coneflower · This perennial adds color contrast and thrives in similar dry conditions.

Similar species

• Pygmy Pea Shrub · A much smaller relative that is better suited for rock gardens.

Science

Family

Fabaceae

Genus

Caragana

Order

Fabales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Siberia and parts of Central Asia.

Conservation

It is not of conservation concern and is considered invasive in some parts of North America.

It thrives in harsh, dry, and windy environments by fixing nitrogen in the soil.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees

Uses

windbreak, hedge, soil stabilization, ornamental

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it drought tolerant?

Yes, it is very drought tolerant once established.

Does it need pruning?

It responds well to pruning if you want to keep it as a formal hedge.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Caragana comes from the Mongolian name for these shrubs, while arborescens means tree like.

Good to know

• It is often called the Siberian pea shrub because of its pea like pods.
• This plant is incredibly hardy and can survive extreme cold.
• It was historically used as a living fence on the Great Plains.

Also in

• Drought-tolerant plants