Siberian Pea Tree (Caragana arborescens)

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae | Edibility: Choice Edible (5/5)

C. arborescensis is a medium to fast growing perennial shrub. A species of legume. Leaves are alternate and compound with small leaflets and can be light to dark green. Small, yellow fragrant flowers bloom in early summer with pod fruits, containing many seeds, ripening in mid summer. Both the seed and seed pods are edible. Medicinal Uses include: Cancer; Emmenagogue.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavour, it is best used in spicy dishes. — Small but produced in abundance, there are 4 - 6 seeds per pod.; A bland flavour, it is best used in spicy dishes.; The raw seed has a mild pea-like flavour, though we are not sure if it should be eaten in quantity when raw.; The seed contains 12.4% of a fatty oil and up to 36% protein, it has been recommended as an emergency food for humans.

Habitat & North American Range

River banks, pebbles, sands, open forests and forest edges, gully slopes and stony slopes. (Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7)