In Hemenway's book , he mentions the cherry growers on Orcas Island plant caragana with their fruit trees.
They claim the trees grow faster with caragana as the nitrogen fixer?
Anyone else tried that?

I remember reading that and I found it pretty interesting. I've grown inoculated legumes in my orchard but never full size nitrogen fixing trees.

I have a cherry, bought at end of season sales.
Will try to plant it next to the caraganas.

Quote:

"Negative ebella On Feb 24, 2005, ebella wrote:
This plant is considered invasive in many areas, especially northern regions, as it escapes cultivation and has the potential to widely spread in previously pristine natural areas. I work for the Forest Service in Alaska as an Ecologist in our Seward office, and this plant is being included in an upcoming multi-agency invasive plants book for Alaska, with the recommendation that it not be purchased, planted, traded, or grown.
Thanks so much, Elizabeth Bella "

Unquote
I found this entry under caragana arborescens, Siberian Pea Shrub, over at DavesGarden Plant Files.

I notice that many leguminous plants--such as kudzu are highly invasive. I suppose as Nitrogen fixers they increase ferility so as to make a cozy home for themselves so they can take over!

Yes, Caragana is on our Invasive plant list.
The ones I have growing are not spreading at all and they are several years old.
There are several different cultivars.
My favorite is the Caragana microphylia which has silver leaves.

I have had siberian pea bushes (part of the caragana group) and they pretty much stay put. Unlike spirea that spreads like wildfire if you let it. I have a pruned caragana tree that sends up suckers within maybe 5" of the trunk but I just cut them down and they don't seem to extend any further. I planted an apple tree about 15' away so will be interesting to see how it does. Course, I have no comparison as the apple tree is new to my garden.

I think the recommendation for caragana and fruit trees, means the two are planted in the same hole.
Or at least in close proximity.