Culture
Easily grown in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Prefers sunny locations in sandy soils. Plants perform well in climates with cold winters (winter hardy to Zone 3) and hot summers. Plants are considered to be xerophilous (capable of thriving in dry, hot locations). This is a low-maintenance shrub which tolerates a number of adverse conditions including urban problems, strong winds and poor soils. Propagate by seeds sown outdoors in autumn or in spring after being soaked in warm water or by softwood cuttings, root cuttings, layering or grafting on C. arborescens.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Caragana rosea, commonly known as pink peashrub, is a spiny, leguminous, nitrogen-fixing, multi-stemmed, upright arching, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 3-4’ tall and as wide. It is native to slopes and valleys in central and northeast China, Japan and Russia. Leaves are 4-foliolate with each leaflet to 1” long. Insignificant yellowish fall color. Rose-pink, pea-like flowers bloom singly in May-June on the prior year’s wood. Flowers give way to slender yellowish-green seed pods (to 2 1/2” long) that mature to brown in late summer.
Genus name comes from the Latinized version of the Mongolian name for a species of the genus.
Specific epithet from Latin means rose pink in reference to flower color.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites. Leafhoppers.
Uses
Not considered to be very ornamental, and is infrequently grown in gardens in the U.S. Best use of this shrub is in difficult areas of the landscape where growing conditions are challenging. Dry banks. Hedge. Shrub border.