Plant library
Pioneer species
Tagasaste
Chamaecytisus proliferus
Zones 8–11
Tree lucerne: a drought-proof, nitrogen-fixing fodder tree that coppices into a living mulch factory for dry, sandy, Mediterranean and subtropical sites.
Sun
Full sun
Water
low
Spacing
8-10 ft apart in hedgerows
Soil
Sandy, well-drained soil, pH 6.0-8.0
Difficulty
easy
Zones
8–11
When to plant
Feb
Mar
Oct
Nov
Timing shifts with your zone — the Genie can pin down exact dates for you.
How to care for it
Plant seedlings at the start of the rainy season in well-drained soil. Once established it needs no irrigation — coppice every 1-2 years for copious high-protein mulch.
Good companions
Hedgerow backbone for dry Mediterranean and subtropical food forests
Harvest
Coppice every 1-2 years — the prunings are protein-rich mulch or livestock fodder.
Want a plan for growing Tagasaste?
Your Genie can give exact timing and care for your zone.
