Siberian Pea Tree - got pea tree seeds anyone?

[TomDuncan]

Hi all, this is my first post on this particular forum. Geoff mentioned the Siberian Pea Tree, Caragana arborescens, and that it is a potential suitable food forest pioneer species for down here in cold Woodend, Central Victoria. I'm looking for viable seeds. If anyone has any, or can point me in the right direction to someone that has some - would be much appreciated. Also, is there a group say, Permaculture Central Victoria or any such thing? Darren? others?

Cheers, Tom

[permaculture.biz]

Hi Tom,

Don't forget there are a lot of acacia's that do very well as pioneers - we don't always have to look os for sources. For Woodend (I'm going to the Falloon's of Falloons Rd today it so happens!) - a species like Acacia retinodes (wirilda) is a brilliant all rounder and grows like buggery. It is analogous of tagasaste (try it too - it grows well around Woodend - especially on the basalt) and Caragana in its vegetative form - doesn't have 36% protein seeds like the latter though. Where do you get Caragana from? Haven't tried to source it - someone will have some - I'll snoop around for you.

There is a group in Bendigo though the Gravel Hills Gardens - not a central Vic group though.

Cheers,

Yours and Growing,

Darren Doherty

[TomDuncan]

Thanks Darren for looking around for the Siberian Pea Tree seeds. Look forward to hearing from you. Yeah the nutritional value of the peas themselves is pretty unique, providing perrenial food supply apparently fruiting up to 5-7 years after propagation. It would be a great addition to year round food supply in temperate climates.

Cheers, Tom

[michele]

Hi

Reading this post about finding native analogues for Tagasaste with interest. Our place is at Merricks North on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, and I'm looking for suitable acacias to act as nurse trees for planned fruit and nut tree plantings. I've spoken to a local nursery that specialises in indigenous plants and works on reveg projects. Acacia mearnsii is their recommendation. Do you reckon that would be suitable?

Darren, if you're reading this - hello. I did a 'Designing Water into Landscape Course' that you co-taught with Geoff Lawton at Goulburn in April of this year.

cheers
Michele

[SueinWA]

You might post a request for it at the Australia Garden Exchange at http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/exoz/ Most people want to trade for something, and you must have something, even if you have to buy something.

You can also buy it online through Australia's eBay, if you don't mind paying the shipping from the U.S. or UK.

Sue

[serfsup!]

I'm unsure of the legality or cost of ordering from them from the US but I know of a couple sources.

http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/SeedlistCA.htm Has seeds available.

http://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/ Though it's not advertised on their website I've seen Siberian pea shrubs for sale at their nursery in Santa Fe.

Patrick

[Inge]

Phoenix Seeds PO BOX 207 Snug tasmania 7054 has caragana listed in their current catalogue.

[leland]

the caragana is a very usefull plant, the seeds can be eaten green like peas, or eaten when mature like dry beans. the immature pods and shoots are edible, and the seeds can be sprouted. they can be grazed fairly heavily when mature and it will only benifit the plant, and the mature seed make good poultry feed, when run through a mill first. they are very high in protein and fatty oils, can fix up to cubic meter of sand, and since they are a legume they improve the soil. they make a good bee plant, and are often in bloom when other plants are not. they are sensitive to grazing and weather during the first few years. so it might be a good idea to start them in a fenced area then transplant them. if this is not an option, a mixture of 2 eggs per one liter of water, run through a blender and sprayed lightly on the plants once a month or after rain will keep grazing animals from eating them.

[gbell]

Don't forget species like Acacia retinodes (wirilda) is a brilliant all rounder and grows like buggery

Annoying! My two native sources - local Landcare nursery and http://www.chatfields.com.au/ don't carry it! Anybody have a favourite source? I see an ebay seller...