Caragana jubata aka Shag Spine Peashrub

Caragana jubata is a small, deciduous shrub in the pea family. Its common names include shag-spine and maned Siberian pea tree. It comes from temperate Asia, with a wide inland range. This includes parts of Russia, Mongolia, China, and Central Asia. It also grows in Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim in India. Its wild habitat includes dry, gravelly slopes above subalpine forests. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The shrub reaches about 3.3 feet [1 metre] in height. Its many sharp spines make a dense barrier. This gives it value as a low, defensive hedge. Its appeal lies more in its unusual form than showy blooms. It flowers from April to May, and seeds ripen in September. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers, and the plant attracts wildlife. Bacteria in its root nodules help it fix nitrogen.

Grow this shrub in full sun with free-draining soil. It suits sandy or loamy ground and tolerates poor soil. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Soil may be dry or moist, but damp sites suit it poorly. Once established, it can cope with drought. It cannot grow in shade. Hot summers and cold winters suit it best. Cool, dull British summers can limit its flowers. In Britain, a warm, dry wall offers a useful planting site. PFAF lists it for USDA zones 3–7.

Besides hedging, it suits the sunny edge of a woodland garden. Bark fibre has been used to make rope and coarse bags. PFAF records no known edible uses and gives edibility zero out of five. It also reports no known hazards. That does not establish that all parts are safe to eat. Traditional medicinal uses include treatments for coughs, headaches, boils, and swollen tissues. Uses for rheumatic joint pain and wound care are also recorded. These records do not establish clinical benefit or safe doses.

Seeds offer one route to new plants. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame when ripe. Soak stored seed in warm water before sowing. Seedlings need individual pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a greenhouse through their first winter. Plant out after the expected last frost in late spring or early summer.