Caragana halodendron

RHS Plant Profile

salt tree

Synonyms

Halimodendron argenteum
Halimodendron halodendron

Shrubs

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A spreading, arching shrub reaching 2m in height and spread. The leaves are small, silvery grey, and spiny. Small, purple-pink, pea-like flowers are produced all along the branches in early and mid-summer, followed by inflated seed pods which turn brown in autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Caragana are deciduous, usually spiny shrubs with pinnate leaves and solitary or clustered yellow, occasionally white or pink flowers, followed by brown pods
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: SE Russia to Mongolia and Pakistan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor, sharply drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Will tolerate salty soil but not winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring, or by layering in summer or autumn, or take root cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Gravel garden
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility