• very hardy zone 2
• beautiful small tree
• drought resistant
• deer do not eat
• thorny
• small yellow flowers in June
• tolerant of poor soil
• delicate ferny foliage
• perfect specimen tree or focal point
• recovers well from wind or snow damage
• 15’H X 10’W

Lorberg Caragana in my Cranbrook front garden underplanted with Blue Oat Grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, Russian Sage, Perovskia, Spiraea japonica and Lady’s Mantle, Alchemilla mollis, all of which are, to date, deer proof. There is also a patch of Lamb’s Ears Stachys byzantina in the corner – also deer proof. The yellow lemon scented Daylily which normally blooms with the Caragana unfortunately is not deer proof!

This really is a wonderful small tree. It has all the attributes but one we look for in our zone three gardens. Its arching branches can be susceptible to breakage under heavy snow loads. However even with this one weakness, over the years we have found this tree to have great strength in recovery. Our tree, one year in heavy snow and ice, actually split down the center of the trunk almost to ground level. Undeterred my husband bolted it together at the top and I bound the trunk spirally with foam covered wire and then over bandaged with burlap ribbon. The tree continued to flower and leaf out for two years before I removed the wire and bandage. Everything had healed up beautifully and I unwrapped in time for there not to be permanent wire marks on the trunk. Below is a picture of Russian Sage under the tree but if you look carefully yo can see the bolt.

This little tree really is a jewel in my mind. There are many Caraganas that do well in our climate but most, well, apologies, look like a Pea Shrub Caragana! They originate from Siberia and China which is why they do so well in our climate. ! Another favourite is the Weeping Caragana to be spotlit another time.